Still trying to locate November and December 2006 records!

31 October 2006

Temperatures well down overnight, and the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were 23 Rush Veneer, five Silver Y, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Pearly Underwing, two each of Diamond-back, Cosmopolitan, Scarce Bordered Straw and a Delicate (M Cade).  Only five moths trapped at Lyons Gate: two Spruce Carpet, singles each of Rush Veneer, Satellite and November Moth (T A Box).

30 October 2006

Despite windy and quite cool conditions overnight surprisingly good numbers of common immigrant moths were attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps: 162 Rush Veneer, 50 Rusty-dot Pearl, 39 Diamond-back, 15 Silver Y, nine Pearly Underwing, three Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, a Vestal and a Cosmopolitan (M Cade).  At Broadwey, a Palpita vitrealis, two Gem, three Pearly Underwing, a Scarce Bordered Straw and a late Nutmeg (P Harris).  At West Bexington, another Crimson Speckled to light (R Eden per P Harris).

Highlights at Shaggs: two Acleris hyemana, two each of Cypress Carpet and Delicate, and a Scarce Bordered Straw; while at Walditch: a Carcina quercana, an Nephopterix angustella, a Blood-vein and a Delicate, two each of Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw and Snout (M Parsons).  A Cypress Carpet found at 2300 by the front door, Alderholt (T Morris).

Lyons Gate produced a very worn female Gem (new for the garden), three Rush Veneer, three Feathered Thorn, and a rather late Straw Dot (T A Box).

29 October 2006

At Portland, a second Crimson Speckled moth of the autumn there, was seen near the Obs during the afternoon (per M Cade).  Two good daytime finds today by a non-mother: a Flame Brocade on the toilet block at Abbotsbury, and a Crimson Speckled between Cogden Beach and West Bexington (C Rogers).  Five Oak Rustic to light traps by 1900 at Highcliffe Castle, said to be the commonest moth! (P Davey).

The overnight tally in the Portland Obs garden traps consisting of 66 Rusty-dot Pearl, 59 Rush Veneer, nine Pearly Underwing, nine Silver Y, six Delicate, four Cosmopolitan, two Dark Sword-grass and singles of Diamond-back, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Broadwey, three Gem, two Vestal, a Dark Sword-grass, two Red-green Carpet and a Large Wainscot (P Harris).  At Chickerell, two Gem, singles of Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer, three late Double-striped Pug and a late Heart and Dart (C Pinder).  From a new site near Durlston, three Oak Rustic, Gem, Vestal and Scarce Bordered Straw (P England per P Harris).  At Walditch, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Delicate, a Vestal, a Crocidosema plebejana, a Crimson Speckled, and late examples of Dark Arches and Clouded Silver (M Parsons).  At Lyons Gate, two Rush Veneer, three Red-green Carpet, Merveille du Jour and a Yellow-line Quaker where the highlights (T A Box).

28 October 2006

Highlights from Broadwey: Cosmopolitan, two Gem, two Palpita vitrealis, Wormwood Pug and a Scarce Bordered Straw (P Harris).  At Chickerell, two Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Rush Veneer and Dark Sword-grass (C Pinder).  A spectacular night's mothing at Durlston with no less than 62 species recorded: interesting residents included two Oak Rustic (see photos), one of which was crippled proving residency for the species at Durlston, two Cypress Carpet, singles of Swallow-tailed Moth, Streak, Brindled Ochre, Choreutis pariana, Calybites phasianipennella, Caloptilia rufipennella, the tortrix Crocidosema plebejana, and two Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla; migrants included a Blair's Mocha, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three Dark Sword-grass, 13 Delicate, seven Gem, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a Ni Moth, 32 Pearly Underwing, 33 Scarce Bordered Straw, 16 Silver Y, four Small Mottled Willow, 39 Turnip, a White-speck, an estimated 150 Rusty-dot Pearl and 100 Rush Veneer, two Hymenia recurvalis, 18 Palpita vitrealis and 12 Diamond-back (P Davey).  Also at Durlston, another Hymenia recurvalis, making three there, and six Palpita vitrealis (J Clarke).  A Crimson Speckled and a Red-headed Chestnut at West Bexington (R Eden per P Harris).  At Walditch, four Scarce Bordered Straw, three Delicate, three Palpita vitrealis, singles of Vestal, Gem, Cosmopolitan and Nephopterix angustella (M Parsons).  At Lyons Gate, a Rush Veneer, Merveille du Jour, Feathered Thorn, Dark Chestnut and a colourful Acleris cristana were the best from a small haul (T A Box).  At Kingston, four Rusty-dot Pearl, three Rush Veneer, a Pearly Underwing and a Dark Chestnut (P Benham).

27 October 2006

Immigrant numbers increased a little in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, with the overnight catch including totals of 42 Rush Veneer, 14 Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Delicate, eight Silver Y, seven Pearly Underwing, three Cosmopolitan, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Diamond-back and a Palpita vitrealis (M Cade).  At Durlston, an Oak Rustic, Black Rustic, Pearly Underwing, and two Palpita vitrealis, plus a 'few' Rusty-dot Pearl (per Durlston C P website).  Also, seven Palpita vitrealis, there (J Clarke).  At Walditch, a Blair's Mocha and a Cypress Carpet (M Parsons).  At Lyons Gate, a Palpita vitrealis was new to the garden, singles of Rush Veneer, Yellow-line Quaker and a late Straw Dot were the other highlights (T A Box).  A Cypress Carpet, Babylon Hill (M Yeates).

26 October 2006

Immigrants/wanderers attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 22 Rush Veneer, eight Pearly Underwing, six Rusty-dot Pearl, four Silver Y, three Delicate, a Cosmopolitan, a Grey Shoulder-knot and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  A clear and rather chilly night but a surprisingly good haul at Preston: highlights were singles of Merveille du Jour (only the 2nd garden record), Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Brick, Yellow-line Quaker and Delicate, six Red-line Quaker and three Large Wainscot (M Forster).  At Chickerell, the small number of moths trapped included two Rush Veneer, and singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Feathered Ranunculus, Red-green Carpet, and a very late moribund Scalloped Oak (C Pinder).  A Buttoned Snout found in the kitchen at Shapwick, the second of the year there (P Davey).  A Parsnip Moth and Beaded Chestnut attracted to porch light, Lyons Gate (T A Box).

25 October 2006

The second Hymenia recurvalis of the autumn was the pick of the overnight catch in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps; other immigrants included 18 Rush Veneer, eight Silver Y, seven Pearly Underwing, six Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Diamond-back, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).

The highlights from Durlston included Black Rustic and Beaded Chestnut (per Durlston C P website).  At Shaggs, highlights included three Delicate, one Vestal and a Small Mottled Willow, while at Walditch, the best were singles of Delicate, Scarce Bordered Straw and Cypress Carpet, with two male Gem (M Parsons).  At Shapwick, a Cosmopolitan (P Davey).

24 October 2006

Despite the early part of the night being quite calm the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were disappointingly quiet, with the immigrant tally consisting of 63 Rush Veneer, 21 Silver Y, 15 Rusty-dot Pearl, 10 Pearly Underwing, seven Diamond-back, three Delicate, a Gem, a Dark Sword-grass and a White-speck (M Cade).  Two Oak Rustic and a Purple Marbled reported from the coastal strip (per P Davey).  A Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Brindled Ochre at Shapwick, the last 20km away from its normal coastal grassland habitat (P Davey).  At Walditch, a Vestal, Palpita vitrealis and a Crocidosema plebejana (M Parsons). 

23 October 2006

The only immigrant attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight were 19 Rush Veneer, 19 Pearly Underwing, nine Rusty-dot Pearl, four Delicate, two Dark Sword-grass, two Silver Y, a Diamond-back and a White-speck (M Cade).  A Rusty-dot Pearl found indoors on a light, Bridport (T A Box).

22 October 2006

There was little of note attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, with immigrant totals of just 27 Pearly Underwing, 19 Rush Veneer, six Rusty-dot Pearl, six Delicate, three Diamond-back, three Silver Y, a Gem and a Dark Sword-grass (M Cade).

21 October 2006

Another wet and windy night put paid to overnight mothing at the Portland Obs where the only immigrants attracted to the traps were 23 Rush Veneer, nine Silver Y, six Pearly Underwing and two Delicate (M Cade).  Highlights at Preston were singles of Dark Sword-grass, Scarce Bordered Straw, Green-brindled Crescent and Dark Chestnut (M Forster).  The only moths of note at Lyons Gate were another Merveille du Jour and the first Dark Chestnut of the autumn there (T A Box).

20 October 2006

Daytime records at Portland, a Monarch flew over the Obs garden and a Crimson Speckled moth flushed from ground in the hut fields and captured in the observers hat, was the third island record following two in consecutive days in 1990.  Overnight was a Red Sword-grass, the first modern record for the island - see PBO website for photos.  Other immigrants attracted to the traps included 127 Rush Veneer, 49 Silver Y, 26 Rusty-dot Pearl, eight Pearly Underwing, seven Delicate, six Diamond-back and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Scarce Bordered Straw and Ni Moth (M Cade).  At Preston, a much better night both in moth terms and weather-wise: 70 Rush Veneer, 15 Rusty-dot Pearl, seven Diamond-back, three Scarce Bordered Straw, three Silver Y, two Red-line Quaker, and singles each of Cosmopolitan, Pearly Underwing, Red-green Carpet, Cypress Carpet, Brick and Barred Sallow (M Forster).  The only moth of note in a very soggy trap at Lyons Gate was a Large Wainscot (T A Box).

19 October 2006

An even stormier night, but highlights at Preston were a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, two Scarce Bordered Straw, two Turnip and the first Pink-barred Sallow of the autumn there (M Forster).

18 October 2006

Despite some really miserable wet and windy conditions overnight there was a fair catch of immigrants in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps: a very worn Silver-striped Hawk-moth was the highlight, along with 32 Silver Y, 20 Rush Veneer, 17 Rusty-dot Pearl, 10 Scarce Bordered Straw, eight Delicate, four Pearly Underwing, two each of Diamond-back, Gem, Small Mottled Willow, Clancy's Rustic and a single Vestal (M Cade).  At Preston it was a relief to find the traps intact - particularly the two on the roof, due the wind and rain; predictably few moths, the highlights being a Dark Sword-grass, two Scarce Bordered Straw, four Silver Y, a Brick and a Red Admiral butterfly (M Forster).  At Chickerell, singles of Diamond-back and Rusty-dot Pearl, together with eight Rush Veneer and two Silver Y accounted for over half the total catch on a wet and very windy night (C Pinder).

At Shaggs, three each of Scarce Bordered Straw and Delicate, and a single Red Sword-grass.  A power cut at Walditch meant only a single Scarce Bordered Straw in the trap by morning (M Parsons).

17 October 2006

In still and mild conditions overnight at Portland, the Obs garden moth-traps were pretty busy, with the immigrant/wanderer tally consisting of 171 Rush Veneer, 105 Rusty-dot Pearl, 82 Silver Y, 25 Delicate, 14 Scarce Bordered Straw, eight Pearly Underwing, four Dark Sword-grass, three Gem, three Small Mottled Willow, two Palpita vitrealis, two Diamond-back, two Dusky-lemon Sallow, two Clancy's Rustic and singles of Vestal, Red-green Carpet, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Autumnal Rustic, Flame Brocade and Cosmopolitan; among the resident moths a single Drinker was a particular out of season capture.  Another Blair's Mocha in Weymouth (P Sterling), and a Clancy's Rustic at Preston (R Lambert).  Nearby at Broadwey, four Gem, a Clancy's Rustic, Scarce Bordered Straw, Vestal, Delicate and a Merveille du Jour (P Harris).  At Puddletown a Hymenia recurvalis (H Homer Wood).  At Trigon, a rather worn Convulvulus Hawk-moth and two Cypress Carpet, plus "Vestals, Delicates etc" (C.Manley).  At Walditch, four Vestal, and single Clancy's Rustic, Scarce Bordered Straw, Delicate, Cypress Carpet, Swallow-tailed Moth and Brimstone (M.Parsons).  At Durlston, at least a Gem, Brindled Ochre and a Pale Pinion, while at Shapwick, an Orange Sallow and a Streak (P Davey).  At Motcombe, ten Rusty-dot Pearl, three Pearly Underwing, two Diamond-back, one Delicate, two Eudonia angustea, a Turnip, White-point and Scarce Bordered Straw, and 20 Rush Veneer (P Butter).  Finally, at Gillingham, a large Scarce Bordered Straw, in fine condition, with a Green-brindled Crescent amongst a small catch of more seasonal moths. (G.Hopkins).

16 October 2006

With the wind having dropped away a little overnight there were a few more immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps: 76 Rush Veneer, 55 Rusty-dot Pearl, 39 Silver Y, 14 Delicate, nine Pearly Underwing, six Scarce Bordered Straw, four Diamond-back, two Dark Sword-grass and a single Gem (M Cade).  A Clancy's Rustic found at rest on a garden shed, Weymouth (P Sterling).  At Chickerell, 13 species, including three Delicate, two Rusty-dot Pearl and a single Rush Veneer (C Pinder).  There were no migrants at Broadwey, just Cypress Carpet and Yellow-line Quaker (P.Harris).  Undoubtedly the moth of the night was a Silver-striped Hawk-moth, sitting on the sheet beside the trap at Trigon (C Manley).  At Gillingham, another couple of late stragglers - Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and a Lesser Yellow Underwing (G Hopkins).

15 October 2006

There was nothing of great interest attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, with the immigrant tally consisting of 20 Rusty-dot Pearl, 18 Rush Veneer, nine Pearly Underwing, eight Delicate, seven Silver Y, two Diamond-back and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Just before dusk, a Blair's Mocha found at rest in the garden at Weymouth, almost certainly attracted by previous evening trapping session (P Sterling).  Single Clancy's Rustic at Broadway (P Harris) and another at Preston (R Lambert).  At Chickerell, three Rusty-dot Pearl, and singles of Turnip and Delicate (C Pinder).  Another Blair's Mocha, this time at Ferndown (D Couzens).  At Walditch, singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, L-album Wainscot, Palpita vitrealis and a rather late Buff Footman (M Parsons).  At Winterborne Stickland, White-point, Large Wainscot, Pearly Underwing, Figure of Eight and Red-line Quaker (per Dorset B C web).  At Lyons Gate, a Delicate was new for the garden, while two Rush Veneer, a Large Wainscot, and three Merveille du Jour were the best of the rest (T A Box).

14 October 2006

The wind was again much too strong for productive moth-trapping and the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps overnight were 11 Pearly Underwing, ten Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Delicate, five Rush Veneer, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Clancy's Rustic and two Silver Y (M Cade).  At Preston the garden traps were very busy last night with 232 macros of 27 species; highlights were singles of Gem, White-point and Clancy's Rustic, two each of Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw, three Pearly Underwing, four Dark Sword-grass, 43 Silver Y, 52 Turnip, three Large Wainscot and the first Red-line Quaker of the autumn; also moderately late records of Bright-line Brown-eye, Vine's Rustic and a Palpita vitrealis (M Forster).  At Broadwey, a Brick, two Scarce Bordered Straw, Delicate, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass, White-point and Large Wainscot were the highlights here (P Harris).  Notables at Chickerell were two each of Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer, singles of Delicate and Turnip, and a very late Endotricha flammealis (the last of the summer generation there was 30th July) (C Pinder).  Walditch weighed in with singles each of Clancy's Rustic, Vestal, L-album Wainscot, Crocidosema plebejana and Pyralis farinalis (M Parsons).  Two Southern Chestnut at dusk at Holt Heath, and at Shapwick in addition to a Clancy’s Rustic, a Paracorsia repandalis, is quite a rarity and the second record for the observer who trapped the first one at St Albans Head back in 1992 – which was probably then only the second UK record (P Davey).  The highlights at Lyons Gate in a busier trap than of late were four migrant Rush Veneer and a Vestal, with three Angle Shades and a Merveille du Jour, and the first Feathered Thorn of the autumn (T A Box).  There was a Gem at Babylon Hill, as well as five Rusty-dot Pearl and four Rush Veneer and two Merveille du Jour was new for the garden there (M Yeates).  At Motcombe, two Pale Mottled Willow, nine Green-brindled Crescent, a third Large Wainscot, and more Brindled Greens than ever - numbers of Green-brindled Crescent are double there than in previous years - and several autumn species seen attracted to Ivy blossom, including Satellite (P Butter).  Several that appeared to have missed the last boat at Gillingham included Silver Y, Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character (G Hopkins).

13 October 2006

The strengthening easterly wind spoilt overnight moth-trapping at the Portland Obs, where the only immigrants caught were 47 Rush Veneer, 37 Rusty-dot Pearl, 13 Pearly Underwing, 13 Delicate, nine Silver Y, two Clancy's Rustic, a Gem and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Preston, highlights were singles of Gem, Delicate, Scarce Bordered Straw, Pearly Underwing, Satellite and Brindled Green, 23 Turnip and 28 Silver Y (M Forster).  At Chickerell, two Rush Veneer, and singles of Turnip, Delicate and L-album Wainscot; also of interest were late singles of Pale Mottled Willow, and Double-striped Pug (the latter much paler than yesterday's specimen, and a Willow Beauty (C Pinder).   At Studland, male and female Gem, Delicate, Clancy's Rustic, plus Diasemiopsis ramburialis (following the one from Portland yesterday), Red Sword-grass and Neglected Rustic (C Manley).  Highlights at Lyons Gate: a Large Wainscot, two Rush Veneer, two Vestal, a Scarce Bordered Straw, a Merveille du Jour, and a very worn Large Yellow Underwing (T A Box).

12 October 2006

In nice still and mild conditions overnight there were plenty of moths on the wing at the Bill:  the second island record of Figure of Eight (the last record was as long ago as 1982) and a single Diasemiopsis ramburialis were the pick of the catch in the Portland Obs garden traps, which also attracted 189 Rush Veneer, 114 Rusty-dot Pearl, 48 Delicate, 45 Pearly Underwing, 23 Silver Y, nine Clancy's Rustic, seven Scarce Bordered Straw, two Diamond-back, two Gem, two Autumnal Rustic and singles of Palpita vitrealis and Brindled Green; elsewhere another Clancy's Rustic was caught in a garden trap at Fortuneswell (M Cade).  Highlights at Preston where: Convolvulus Hawk-moth, six Clancy's Rustic, two Delicate, two Pearly Underwing, 11 Silver Y, 11 Turnip, and singles of Cypress Carpet, female Four-spotted Footman, Red Underwing and a Palpita vitrealis (M Forster).  Nearby at Broadwey: a Diasemiopsis ramburialis was a new trapping record for observer; also two each of Clancy's Rustic, Vestal, Delicate, Turnip, Red-line Quaker, and singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Pearly Underwing, Palpita vitrealis, and late records of Endotricha flammealis, Straw Dot and Light Emerald (P Harris).  At Chickerell, singles of Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl and Cypress Carpet, plus first Blair's Shoulder-knot of the year there, and a late Double-striped Pug (C Pinder).  A second Clancy's Rustic at Durlston last night, plus a Mallow and an Epermenia aequidentellus (P Davey).  At Shaggs, Clancy's Rustic, Cypress Carpet, Delicate and four Merveille du Jour (M Parsons). 

Among small numbers of usual autumnal species at Lyons Gate, migrants included a Rush Veneer and a Rusty-dot Pearl, Black Rustic, and a Merveille du Jour (T A Box).  Similarly at Kingston, migrants included five Rusty-dot Pearl and three Pearly Underwing, also good to catch one each of Pine Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet and Spruce Carpet (P Benham).

11 October 2006

Immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 42 Pearly Underwing, 29 Silver Y, 26 Rush Veneer, 22 Delicate, 13 Rusty-dot Pearl, three Scarce Bordered Straw and singles of Vestal, Clancy's Rustic, Ni Moth and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly (M Cade).  At Broadwey, the only moths of note were Clancy's Rustic, another Swallow-tailed Moth and a Red Underwing (P Harris).  At Chickerell, two Rush Veneer, a Turnip, four each of Green-brindled Crescent and Beaded Chestnut, two Black Rustic, and three each of Feathered Ranunculus and Lunar Underwing was the sum total caught (C Pinder).  Clive mentions that by same date last year and with the same number of trapping nights with a 15w actinic, Lunar Underwing was 1123 against 201 this year, and Feathered Ranunculus 78 against 30 this year - is this just a local phenomena or affecting all autumnal species?  More moths outside the trap than in this morning at Lyons Gate, including a Vestal, three Merveille du Jour, a Blair's Shoulder-knot and the first Red-line Quaker of the autumn there (T A Box).

10 October 2006

Some very heavy thundery rain as well as a constant stiff wind provided less than ideal conditions for overnight moth-trapping but there was still a fair selection of immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps: 55 Rush Veneer, 30 Rusty-dot Pearl, 20 Delicate, 19 Pearly Underwing, 19 Silver Y, four Gem, four Dark Sword-grass, three Clancy's Rustic, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth and singles of Uresiphita polygonalis and Vestal (M Cade).  At Broadwey, five Gem, three each of Large Wainscot and Turnip, two Pearly Underwing, a Cypress Carpet and a White-point (P Harris).  The out of season mid-summer species continue to appear with Lozotaeniodes formosanus and Mother of Pearl at Shapwick; scarcer migrants there included Gem and Dusky-lemon Sallow (P Davey).  Another late Beautiful Hook-tip, Ferndown (D Couzens).  At Kingston, a Purple Marbled was the main highlight, while other migrants included four Delicate, two Silver Y, singles of Pearly Underwing, Vestal and Rusty-dot Pearl; of more local interest were a Figure of Eight, and late examples of Pale Mottled Willow and Double-striped Pug (P Benham).

9 October 2006

The first still and overcast night for some time was much more productive from the mothing point of view. The highlight in the Portland Obs garden traps was the third island record of Hymenia recurvalis (the previous two records were of singles at the Obs on 11th and 12th October 1995); immigrant/wanderer totals in the traps also included 48 Rush Veneer, 30 Pearly Underwing, 29 Rusty-dot Pearl, 26 Delicate, 12 Silver Y, five Palpita vitrealis, two Dark Sword-grass, two Clancy's Rustic and singles of Red-green Carpet, Brindled Green and Red Admiral butterfly (M Cade).  At Broadwey, rather a mixed bag: four Delicate, two Pearly Underwing, seven Turnip, a Cypress Carpet, Vapourer, Swallow-tailed Moth, two Red-line Quaker, Blood-vein and Sallow (P Harris).  Among 14 species at Chickerell were three Rush Veneer and nine Turnip (C Pinder).  At Durlston, five Palpita vitrealis, a Clancy's Rustic and a female Channel Islands Pug (beneath tamarisk bushes); a Swallow-tailed Moth at Shapwick (P Davey).  At Dorchester, singles each of Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Palpita vitrealis, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow and Vestal, five Pearly Underwing, three Turnip, one L-album Wainscot, seven Rush Veneer and five Rusty-dot Pearl (J Down).  Another out-of-season moth at Gillingham, an Orthopygia glaucinalis (G Hopkins).

8 October 2006

It was much too windy and wet overnight to have expected many moths to have been attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps, although the catch did include 15 Rush Veneer, two Delicate, two Clancy's Rustic and a Pearly Underwing (M Cade).  At Broadwey, singles each of Palpita vitrealis, Gem, Delicate, and three Pearly Underwing (P Harris).  An unusually late Beautiful Hook-tip at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

7 October 2006

Immigrants in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 48 Rush Veneer, 13 Delicate, nine Pearly Underwing, three Silver Y, a Rusty-dot Pearl, a Scarce Bordered Straw and an Oak Nycteoline (M Cade).  At Preston, six Pearly Underwing, four Silver Y, two Delicate, singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Dark Sword-grass and Clancy's Rustic and 28 Turnip (M Forster).  At Chickerell, single Pearly Underwing, Turnip and Delicate (C Pinder).  A late Swallow-tailed Moth at Ferndown (D Couzens).  Highlights at Lyons Gate were two Turnip, a Green-brindled Crescent, and the first Merveille du Jour of the year there (T A Box).  A late Straw Dot at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

6 October 2006

Highlights at Preston were a Brindled Green (new for the garden), also a Pearly Underwing, 12 Turnip and a Cypress Pug (M Forster).  A Merveille du Jour and a Red-line Quaker were firsts for the autumn at Broadwey (P Harris).  A Pearly Underwing at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

5 October 2006

Virtually nothing to report, but at Broadwey, despite the weather, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Pearly Underwing, Red Underwing and the first Sallow of the autumn there (P Harris); and at Preston, two Silver Y, four Pearly Underwing and 13 Turnip (M Forster)..

4 October 2006

Overnight moth-trapping at the Portland Obs produced immigrant totals of 159 Rush Veneer, 49 Pearly Underwing, 42 Delicate, 13 Silver Y, six Rusty-dot Pearl, two Diamond-back, two White-speck and singles of Palpita vitrealis, Dark Sword-grass, Clancy's Rustic and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Gillingham, a Green-brindled Crescent and a Scarce Bordered Straw (considered the same as the one 26 September due similar damage to wing) (G Hopkins).

3 October 2006

Immigrant moths were still on the wing in some numbers at the Portland Obs, where overnight trapping produced totals of 136 Rush Veneer, 127 Pearly Underwing, 50 Delicate, 13 Silver Y, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, five Dark Sword-grass, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Diamond-back and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Chickerell three Rush Veneer and a single Rusty-dot Pearl, together with the first Green-brindled Crescent of this year, were the only garden moths worthy of mention (C Pinder).  At Walditch, singles of Clancy's Rustic, Pearly Underwing and Rusty-dot Pearl, and also Blair's Shoulder-knot and Feathered Ranunculus; and at Shaggs three Delicate and single Scarce Bordered Straw, Merveille du Jour and Grey Shoulder-knot (M Parsons).

2 October 2006

By day, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Winfrith Newburgh (per Dorset B C website).

Despite unpromising-looking cool and breezy conditions at Portland, respectable numbers of immigrant moths were attracted to the Obs garden traps overnight: 165 Pearly Underwing, 135 Rush Veneer, 54 Delicate, 13 Silver Y, three Dark Sword-grass, three Rusty-dot Pearl, two Diamond-back and singles of White-speck, Clancy's Rustic, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  A dead, but perfectly preserved Death's Head Hawk-moth was found during a family walk in the Rodwell area of Weymouth (A Younger).  The only moth of note at Broadwey was the first Green-brindled Crescent of the autumn (P Harris), whilst at Gillingham there were singles of Silver Y, Pearly Underwing and Delicate (G Hopkins).
 

1 October 2006

Just five Delicate, two Rush Veneer, and single Rusty-dot Pearl and Pearly Underwing at Portland (M Cade). The only other reports were of nine Turnip in wild and windy conditions at Broadwey (P Harris) and single Silver Y and Brindled Green at Gillingham (G Hopkins)

30 September 2006

Overnight moth-trapping in extremely windy conditions at Portland Obs attracted eight Delicate, three Rush Veneer, two Rusty-dot Pearl, two Pearly Underwing, two Scarce Bordered Straw and one Diamond-back (M Cade).  A wet and windy night at Preston with predictably fewer moths in the garden traps; highlights were singles of Delicate, Pearly Underwing, Scarce Bordered Straw, Dark Sword-grass and Silver Y and five Turnip (M Forster).  At Gillingham just single Rush Veneer and Small Mottled Willow  (G Hopkins).

29 September 2006

Overnight moth-trapping at Portland Obs was again blighted by the strength of the wind; a single Brindled Green - the first record for the island - was the pick of the catch, whilst immigrants included 41 Rush Veneer, 29 Delicate, five Pearly Underwing, five Scarce Bordered Straw, four Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Palpita vitrealis, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, White-speck, Clancy's Rustic and Silver Y (M Cade). The highlight at Preston was a Red Sword-grass at rest on an outside light near one of the traps (new for the garden); also singles of Clancy's Rustic, Bordered Straw, Feathered Brindle and Red Underwing, two Scarce Bordered Straw and two Delicate and another Clancy's Rustic which had found its way into the house (M. Forster)!  The night's trapping at Broadwey was affected by a thunderstorm at midnight which blacked out much of Weymouth; there were, however, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Delicate and Oak Nycteoline in the trap in the morning (P Harris).

28 September 2006

It wasn't a bad looking night for moth-trapping but in the Portland Obs garden traps there weren't too many signs of new arrivals over and above what was already present; the tally of immigrants/wanderers included 69 Rush Veneer, 58 Delicate, six Pearly Underwing, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Palpita vitrealis, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Diamond-back, two Gem and singles of Uresiphita polygonalis, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Dark Sword-grass, Cosmopolitan, Flounced Chestnut, Small Mottled Willow and Clancy's Rustic (M Cade). 

Highlights in the garden traps at Preston were two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, one Clancy's Rustic, three Delicate, two Pearly Underwing, one Scarce Bordered Straw, one Dark Sword-grass, two White-point, four Silver Y, one Feathered Brindle and the first Blair's Shoulder-knot of the year there (M Forster).  At Broadwey, P Harris recorded his third Clancy's Rustic of the week, along with three Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Vestal, three Palpita vitrealis and two Delicate.  There was rain for most of the night at Chickerell and not much in the trap; the only noteworthy species were singles of Vestal, Pearly Underwing and Dark Sword-grass (C Pinder).

A Four-spotted Footman was new for the site at Kingston, other migrants included two Small Mottled Willow, single Dark Sword-grass, Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw; other highlights included four Blair's Shoulder-knot, a Grey Shoulder-knot and the first two Red-green Carpet of the autumn there (P Benham).

27 September 2006

It was overcast and quite muggy overnight at Portland, but the strength of the wind again hindered moth-trapping at the Obs where another Antigastra catalaunalis was the only quality immigrant attracted to the traps; other immigrant totals there included 48 Rush Veneer, 30 Delicate, three Pearly Underwing, two Rusty-dot Pearl, two Scarce Bordered Straw, two Small Mottled Willow and singles of Diamond-back, Vestal, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Dark Sword-grass. At Broadwey the night produced another Clancy's Rustic, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Delicate, four Pearly Underwing and a 2nd garden record Feathered Brindle (P Harris).

26 September 2006

Despite quite calm conditions overnight at Portland, the Obs garden moth-traps were not at all busy, with the immigrant tally consisting of 143 Rush Veneer, 63 Delicate, 18 Pearly Underwing, five Scarce Bordered Straw, three Small Mottled Willow, two Rusty-dot Pearl, two Dark Sword-grass, two Silver Y and singles of Gem, Vestal, Convolvulus Hawk-moth and Deep-brown Dart as well as another Red Admiral butterfly.  Two Convolvulus Hawk-moth at Preston (R Lambert) and two also at Broadwey, along with single Four-spotted Footman, Vestal and Delicate (P Harris).  Chickerell: three Rush Veneer, and singles of L-album Wainscot, Delicate and Silver Y (C Pinder). 

At Shaggs, ten Four-spotted Footman and five Delicate, and the first Beaded Chestnut of the year for the site (M Parsons).

At Lyons Gate, a Hoary Footman was a first for the garden, a single Rush Veneer, and the first Blair's Shoulder-knot of the autumn there (T A Box).

At Gillingham a Brick, a second brood Small Blood-vein, Silver Y, and first ever Scarce Bordered Straw (G Hopkins)

25 September 2006

By day, Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Southbourne, Bournemouth, and at Langton Herring (per Dorset B C website).

There was another good influx of Pearly Underwings overnight at Portland; the full immigrant totals in the Obs garden traps were 107 Rush Veneer, 88 Delicate, 76 Pearly Underwing, 12 Scarce Bordered Straw, nine Convolvulus Hawk-moth, five Silver Y, three Dark Sword-grass, three Small Mottled Willow and singles of Diamond-back, Rusty-dot Pearl, Uresiphita polygonalis, Four-spotted Footman, Clancy's Rustic, Bordered Straw and Red Admiral butterfly (M Cade). 

Another Clancy's Rustic this time at Broadwey (a first for the observer there), with two Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Scarce Bordered Straw (P Harris).  At Chickerell, five Rush Veneer and singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Four-spotted Footman and Delicate (C Pinder). 

Two Clancy's Rustic at West Bexington (R Eden per P Harris).

Just the one Four-spotted Footman, and the third Black Rustic of the last few days, Lyons Gate (T A Box).

24 September 2006

There were better numbers of immigrant moths attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps in calmer conditions overnight: 180 Rush Veneer, 76 Delicate, 17 Scarce Bordered Straw, nine Pearly Underwing, six Rusty-dot Pearl, five Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Silver Y, three Dark Sword-grass, three Hummingbird Hawk-moth, two White-speck and singles of Uresiphita polygonalis, Cosmopolitan, Small Mottled Willow, Clancy's Rustic, Bordered Straw and Dark Spectacle, along with two Peacock butterflies (caught in different traps) which are thought to be the first records of this species at light at the Obs (M Cade). 

Another Antigastra catalaunalis and a Clancy's Rustic in Weymouth (P Sterling per P Harris).  At Broadwey, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw, two Pearly Underwing and a Least Carpet (P Harris).  Nearby at Preston, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth (R Lambert per P Harris); and three Delicate, four Scarce Bordered Straw, three Pearly Underwing, six Dark Sword-grass, 12 Silver Y, 32 Turnip, two Frosted Orange and 69 Rush Veneer (M Forster).  At Chickerell, just the one migrant caught in the trap, a Dark Sword-grass, and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, evidently attracted by the light, was found resting on the wall nearby, was a first for the garden (C Pinder).

Durlston attracted a few migrants, with six Convolvulus Hawk-moth, White-point, L-album Wainscot, Lunar Underwing and Autumn Green Carpet just some of the species overnight (per Durlston C P website).

At Walditch: three Vestal, three Delicate, singles of Four-spotted Footman and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Parsons). 

At Winterborne Stickland, three Convolvulus Hawk-moth (per Dorset B C website).

At Gillingham, the first two Blair's Shoulder-knot of the year, a Vestal, Brick and Eudonia angustea, all fighting for space with 163 Lunar Underwing in one trap (G Hopkins).

23 September 2006

A Convolvulus Hawk-moth  found at rest on the garage wall, was a first for the garden at Lyons Gate, as was an Agonopterix arenella found sitting on the car (T A Box).  A Rusty-dot Pearl by day, Gillingham (G Hopkins).

NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT

Difficult weather conditions, strong breeze during the evening, then rain just before dawn, brought mixed fortunes for trappers, although  migrants were in evidence. 

Immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 60 Delicate, 45 Rush Veneer, seven Scarce Bordered Straw, six Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Pearly Underwing and Silver Y, two each of White-speck and Bordered Straw and singles of European Corn Borer, Rusty-dot Pearl, Vestal, Latticed Heath, Four-spotted Footman, Dark Sword-grass and Dusky-lemon Sallow (M Cade).

At Preston, 33 species of macro plus some nice pyrales; highlights were single Convolvulus Hawk-moth and Hummingbird Hawk-moth, two Delicate, four Scarce Bordered Straw, five Dark Sword-grass, one Pearly Underwing, nine Silver Y, two White-point, 15 Turnip, one Uresiphita polygonalis, one Antigastra catalaunalis and 38 Rush Veneer; in addition a good count of 242 Square-spot Rustic (M Forster).

At Broadwey, an Antigastra catalaunalis , two Four-spotted Footman and Pearly Underwing, singles each of Convolvulus Hawk, Gem, Scarce Bordered Straw, Bordered Beauty and a Migrant Hawker.  Nearby at Upwey, the only moth of note was a Four-spotted Footman (P Harris).

23 species at Chickerell, despite the less than ideal conditions, included singles of Rush Veneer, L-album Wainscot, Feathered Brindle, Turnip, Pearly Underwing and Silver Y (C Pinder).

At Walditch: three Vestal, two Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, and singles of L-album Wainscot and White-point (M Parsons).

Holt Heath - the highlight was an Antigastra catalaunalis, with a fine supporting cast – follow link for full list (per P Butter).

Dorchester weighed in with Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Delicate, a Pearly Underwing, five Silver Y, two Rush Veneer, one Scarce Bordered Straw, a Vestal and two Rusty-dot Pearl (J Down).

A busy night at Puddletown with Old World Webworm, six Antigastra catalaunalis, five Four-spotted Footman, 15 Vestal, ten Delicate, 13 Scarce Bordered Straw, and an Ethmia bipunctella (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

Minterne Seat Coppice: two Four-spotted Footman, three Vapourer, September Thorn, and a Svensson's Copper Underwing (the last three new to observer), and at Lyons Gate, two Four-spotted Footman and a Scarce Bordered Straw (T A Box).

At Kingston: a Vestal and Scarce Bordered Straw were the only moths of note, and an odd looking Pinion-streaked Snout (P Benham).

Blair's Wainscot on the wing, with ten caught at one site, and a Scarce Bordered Straw.

22 September 2006

In windy conditions overnight the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were disappointingly unproductive, with the only immigrants caught being 29 Rush Veneer, 23 Delicate, four Hummingbird Hawk-moth, three Pearly Underwing, two Four-spotted Footman, two Dark Sword-grass and singles of Vestal, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Small Mottled Willow and Silver Y (M Cade).  .

A pretty good haul at Preston, the highlights being a Clancy's Rustic (2nd garden record), three Scarce Bordered Straw, a Delicate, four Dark Sword-grass, a Pearly Underwing and 15 Turnip (M Forster).  Nearby at Broadwey, three Delicate two Four-spotted Footman, and a Dark Spectacle were the highlights (P Harris).  Only 12 species at Chickerell overnight but singles of Vestal, Four-spotted Footman, L-album Wainscot and three Feathered Brindle provided quality, along with a Straw Dot, Feathered Ranunculus and two Black Rustic (C Pinder).

Highlights at Corfe Hills Nature Reserve, included a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring at gorse at dusk, three Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Dark Sword-grass, five Delicate, four Four-spotted Footman, two Horse Chestnut, six Vestal, one Diamond-back, 11 Rush Veneer and three Rusty-dot Pearl (T Elborn).

At Dorchester, migrants included Ni Moth, White-point, Delicate, and a Turnip, and ten Rush Veneer, while a Black Rustic was the first of the autumn there (J Down). 

At Puddletown, was a Clancy's Rustic, Antigastra catalaunalis  and six Convolvulus Hawk-moth (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

At Lyons Gate, two Rush Veneer, a Four-spotted Footman, a Turnip and a Red Admiral all attracted to light (T A Box).  A Rush Veneer, Sallow, Mottled Rustic and Galleria mellonella at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

21 September 2006

Strong, warm southerly winds overnight, dropping to calm by morning.  Although very mild overnight, perhaps a little too windy to expect a large catch of moths in the Portland Obs garden traps; there was certainly some evidence of new arrivals, notably six Four-spotted Footman and a single Uresiphita polygonalis (see PBO website for photo), whilst other immigrants in the traps included  49 Rush Veneer, 33 Delicate, seven Pearly Underwing, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, two Silver Y and singles of Diamond-back, European Corn Borer, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade). 

At Broadwey, three male Four-spotted Footman, Delicate, Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw and an Oak Nycteoline (P Harris).

At Shaggs, three Convolvulus Hawk-moth, two Four-spotted Footman, two Delicate, and singles each of Dark Spectacle, L-album Wainscot and a Yellow-tail; and at Walditch, four Vestal, two Delicate, a Four-spotted Footman, an Antigastra catalaunalis and the first Feathered Ranunculus of the year there (M Parsons)

Two Rush Veneer and a Turnip was all that could be mustered at Lyons Gate (T A Box).  A Rush Veneer at Gillingham, where Gordon notes that those of recent days have all been fresh and well-marked, speculating they they may have bred locally? (G Hopkins).

20 September 2006

With the wind having eased right away overnight there were high hopes of some immigrant interest in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps but in the event it appeared that most of the last week's arrivals have moved on and little has arrived in their place; the immigrant/wanderer tally included 49 Rush Veneer, 15 Delicate, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Pearly Underwing, two each of Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Four-spotted Footman, Dark Sword-grass, Scarce Bordered Straw, Silver Y and singles of  Evergestis extimalis, Latticed Heath and Bordered Beauty (M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey, the first Black Rustic and Feathered Ranunculus for the year there (P Harris).  At Chickerell, two Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden during the day and a single Rush Veneer in the trap overnight were the only species of note (C Pinder). 

At Shaggs, two Four-spotted Footman, three Delicate and a Vestal were the highlights.  At Walditch, a Scarce Bordered Straw, two White-point, a Vestal and a single Hoary Footman (M Parsons). 

Again, just the one migrant Rush Veneer, with a Sallow and Black Rustic among hundreds of Craneflies, Lyons Gate (T A Box).  At Kingston, migrant interest in the shape of two Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, four Rush Veneer, and singles of Diamond-back, Pearly Underwing and Bordered Straw; others of note included a late Ruby Tiger and Willow Beauty, a third garden record of Small Dusty Wave, and firsts for the year of Merveille de Jour, Brindled Green, and Barred Sallow (P Benham). One Rush Veneer, and an extremely out of season Red-barred Tortrix at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

19 September 2006

It was another quiet night in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps that attracted by way of immigrants just 41 Rush Veneer, six Pearly Underwing, five Rusty-dot Pearl, four Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, two Silver Y and a Dark Sword-grass (M Cade).  Two Rush Veneer and the first garden Black Rustic of the year at Chickerell (C Pinder).  A Clifden Nonpareil was a fine catch at Shaggs, also an Autumnal Rustic there; three White-point and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Walditch (M Parsons).  A Rush Veneer at Lyons Gate (T A Box).

18 September 2006

A blustery night and rather few species.  There was a noticeable drop in immigrant numbers overnight in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps: 39 Rush Veneer, 22 Pearly Underwing, 12 Delicate, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Dark Sword-grass, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Diamond-back, two Vestal, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a White-speck, a Small Mottled Willow and a Silver Y (M Cade).  Broadwey weighed in with a Dark Spectacle, two Scarce Bordered Straw, Red Underwing and another Short-cloaked Moth (P Harris).  At Chickerell, a solitary Diamond-back and the first for this year of both Feathered Ranunculus and Angle Shades there (C Pinder).

At Shaggs, singles each of Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Bordered Straw and Pine Carpet; while at Walditch, highlights included four Four-spotted Footman, singles each of Delicate, L-album Wainscot and Vestal, two Large Ranunculus and the first Black Rustic of the year there (M Parsons).  At Gillingham, the only migrant was a Rush Veneer, also of interest was a rather late Six-striped Rustic (G Hopkins).

17 September 2006

In clear and cooler conditions overnight the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were a little quieter than of late although immigrants were still quite plentiful. The third island record of Clancy's Rustic was the highlight, whilst other immigrant totals included 243 Rush Veneer, 111 Pearly Underwing, 31 Delicate, 22 Silver Y, 11 Dark Sword-grass, nine Scarce Bordered Straw, five Rusty-dot Pearl, four Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three Vestal, two Cosmopolitan, and singles of Diamond-back, Nephopterix angustella, Four-spotted Footman, White-speck and Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  At Broadwey, a Many-lined (the second there of the year), Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Vestal, and two Pearly Underwing (P Harris).  Two Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden at Chickerell, and two Rush Veneer overnight (C Pinder).  A Pearly Underwing at Gillingham, may have been the same as two days previously, also two Dusky Thorn, and single Oak Hook-tip and Barred Sallow (G Hopkins).

16 September 2006

A cool end to the night, and several observers comment that the traps seemingly dominated by Lunar Underwings and Craneflies at the moment. 

There were still plenty of moths on the wing overnight at Portland with a large increase in Rush Veneers as well as the presence of Hummingbird Hawk-moths and Red Admirals in the moth-traps being evidence of at least some fresh immigration. The immigrant totals in the Obs garden traps were 363 Rush Veneer, 219 Pearly Underwing, 50 Silver Y, 49 Scarce Bordered Straw, 33 Delicate, 23 Rusty-dot Pearl, 12 Dark Sword-grass, seven Vestal, six Diamond-back, six Hummingbird Hawk-moth, five Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Small Mottled Willow, two European Corn Borer, two Palpita vitrealis, a Cosmopolitan, a Dark Spectacle and two Red Admiral butterflies (M Cade).

At Preston, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Pearly Underwing, a White-point, seven Silver Y, three Red Underwing and the first Feathered Ranunculus of the year for the observer and a rather late Ruby Tiger (M Forster).  Traps at Broadwey produced Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, two Scarce Bordered Straw, Vestal, and three Pearly Underwing (P Harris).  At Chickerell, a Vapourer (first garden record), a Burnished Brass, a Straw Dot and a Pinion-streaked Snout, plus singles of Diamond-back, Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl, Silver Y and two Scarce Bordered Straw.(C Pinder).  At Charmouth, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Striped Hawk-moth, six Delicate, eight Scarce Bordered Straw, 16 Pearly Underwing, four Dark Sword-grass and a Vestal (P Chapman per P Harris). 

At Durlston, over 40 species recorded, and evidence of migration provided by a Vestal, Bordered Straw, six Scarce Bordered Straw, 12 Pearly Underwing, five Silver Y, Four-dotted Footman, eight Delicate, five White-point and a Small Mottled Willow; other notable species included a Cypress Carpet and a very late 'mint condition' Small Elephant Hawk-moth (per Durlston C P website).

At Puddletown, a Dewick's Plusia (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  Migrants at Lyons Gate included a Vestal and Rush Veneer; the first Black Rustic of the year for observer at Dyer's Farm Wood, Holnest, and a Light Emerald at Holm Bushes (T A Box).  Singles of Vestal, Delicate (looking so fresh it probably bred locally) Scarce Bordered Straw, Bordered Straw and Ostrinia nubialis were the main interest (P Benham).  A Small Dusty Wave and a Cypress Pug were the highlights at Babylon Hill (M Yeates).  A Rush Veneer, Eudonia angustea and Rosy Rustic at Gillingham (G Hopkins)

15 September 2006

A Rush Veneer and an Agriphila geniculea at rest in offices, Hurn (T A Box).  A Hummingbird Hawk-moth, feeding on buddleia, Durlston Country Park (per Durlston C P website).

Pearly Underwing again dominated the overnight catch in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps and despite the apparently unfavourable breezy conditions both Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw were noticeably more numerous than in recent nights; the oddest capture of the night was a very out of season second record for the island of Beautiful Hook-tip. The full totals of immigrants were 324 Pearly Underwing, 129 Rush Veneer, 59 Silver Y, 54 Scarce Bordered Straw, 38 Delicate, 14 Vestal, six Dark Sword-grass, five Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four European Corn Borer, four Small Mottled Willow, three Diamond-back, two Rusty-dot Pearl, a Cosmopolitan and a Bordered Straw (M Cade). 

At Preston, two Pearly Underwing, a Scarce Bordered Straw, four Silver Y and the first Lunar Underwing of the year there; in addition a Pinion-streaked Snout at an outside light (M Forster).

A Vestal at Babylon Hill was a first for the garden there (M Yeates).  At Gillingham, a Pearly Underwing being the first for the garden, a Silver Y and the first Black Rustic of the year there, among 22 Lunar Underwing (G Hopkins).

14 September 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth by day at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

A wet end to the night, with a few soggy eggboxes!.  The main feature of the overnight mothing at the Portland Obs was an exceptional influx of Pearly Underwings, although for rarity value the capture of yet more Antigastra catalaunalis took some beating; the overnight totals in the traps included 386 Pearly Underwing, 362 Rush Veneer, 70 Silver Y, 33 Scarce Bordered Straw, 30 Dark Sword-grass, 29 Delicate, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Vestal, seven Small Mottled Willow, five each of  Diamond-back, European Corn Borer and Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three Antigastra catalaunalis, two Palpita vitrealis and singles of Bloxworth Snout, Striped Hawk-moth, Archer's Dart, White-speck and Cosmopolitan (M Cade).  At Preston, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass and Dark Spectacle (M Forster). Highlights at Chickerell, were a White-point and a Rush Veneer (C Pinder).  A Convolvulus Hawk-moth at Shaggs, and a Four-spotted Footman; while at Eype, four Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw and a Vestal (M Parsons). 

At Swanage, 22 Rush Veneer, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three White-point, and a Pearly Underwing (S Patton).

The only migrant at Lyons Gate was a Rush Veneer (T A Box), and just the one Dark Sword-grass at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

13 September 2006

There was another substantial arrival of immigrant moths overnight, with the pick of the catch in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps being four more Antigastra catalaunalis; other immigrant totals there included 149 Rush Veneer, 32 Pearly Underwing, 29 Delicate, 17 Vestal, 14 European Corn Borer, 12 Scarce Bordered Straw, 12 Silver Y, seven Dark Sword-grass, six Rusty-dot Pearl, three Palpita vitrealis, three Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Diamond-back (M Cade).  At Freshwater Bay on Portland: two Delicate, and singles of Small Mottled Willow, Vestal, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, along with White-point and L-album Wainscot (M Parsons).  A Convolvulus Hawk-moth and the first Feathered Ranunculus of the year at Fortuneswell (E Cockburn). 

At Preston, a Blair's Mocha, Striped and Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Portland Ribbon Wave (R Lambert) and Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Vestal, White-point, two Scarce Bordered Straw and an Oak Hook-tip (M Forster).  At Broadwey, an Antigastra catalaunalis (new moth for garden), Convolvulus Hawk, two Vestal, five European Corn Borer, a male Four-spotted Footman, Scarce Bordered Straw, two Pearly Underwing, two Pinion-streaked Snout, and a presumed 2nd brood Short-cloaked Moth (not mentioned as occurring in the literature) (P Harris).

At Shaggs, were two Four-spotted Footman, two Ostrinia nubilalis and five Vestal (M Parsons).

At Walditch, highlights included Euchromius ocellea, Portland Ribbon Wave, Vestal, Delicate, Four-spotted Footman, Small Mottled Willow and Ostrinia nubilalis (M Parsons).

Puddletown weighed in with Antigastra catalaunalis, Portland Ribbon Wave, six Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Delicate, nine Vestal, 24 European Corn Borer, 17 Scarce Bordered Straw, 11 Small Mottled Willow, 21 White-point (over 1000 recorded there this year!) Palpita vitrealis, Euchromius ocellea, Dioryctria sylvestrella (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

At Gillingham a superb pink Vestal, three Silver Y, two Rush Veneer, and the first Beaded Chestnut of the autumn there (G Hopkins).

12 September 2006

By day, several Hummingbird Hawk-moth round the buddleia bushes at Shaggs (M Parsons).

The overnight highlight in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps was the capture of three Antigastra catalaunalis; other immigrant totals included 65 Rush Veneer, 18 Pearly Underwing, 15 Delicate, 13 Vestal, seven European Corn Borer, five each of  Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, four Scarce Bordered Straw, three Diamond-back, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth and singles of Evergestis extimalis, Dioryctria abietella, Gem and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  There was a Vestal, White-point and Evergestis extimalis (the latter being new for the garden) at Preston (M Forster).  At Broadwey, one Convolvulus Hawk-moth, four Vestal, and a Scarce Bordered Straw (P Harris).

At Puddletown, a Clifden Nonpareil (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

At Swanage, an Antigastra catalaunalis, 15 Rush Veneer, one Vestal, a female Four-spotted Footman, a Vestal, a Pearly Underwing, ten White-point, and a Bordered Straw (S Patton).

At Lyons Gate overnight, a few migrants: three Rush Veneer, two Vestal and two Scarce Bordered Straw, in addition a Cloaked Carpet was of note (T A Box).  Highlights at Winterborne Stickland included a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, nine Vestal and a Scarce Bordered Straw (per Dorset B C website).  At Kingston, migrants included 24 Rush Veneer, five each of Vestal and Scarce Bordered Straw, two Silver Y, one Rusty-dot Pearl, and two Pearly Underwing; 'local' notables included singles of  Maiden's Blush, Small Dusty Wave, Cypress Pug, September Thorn, Heath Rustic, Nutmeg and Small Wainscot (P Benham).

11 September 2006
In promising-looking, still and sultry conditions overnight there was a small arrival of new immigrant moths in the Portland Obs garden traps: 65 Rush Veneer, 30 Vestal, nine Delicate, seven Silver Y, six Rusty-dot Pearl, five Dark Sword-grass, four Convolvulus Hawk-moth, three Pearly Underwing, two Hummingbird Hawk-moth and singles of Evergestis extimalis, Dioryctria abietella, Four-spotted Footman and Scarce Bordered Straw; another single Convolvulus Hawk-moth was caught overnight in a garden trap at Reap Lane (per M Cade). Additionally, a long-expected addition to the island moth list has been made in recent days with the discovery by a visitor to the Obs of Cosmopterix pulcherimella in the Obs garden, overlooked until now, with both mines and adults on Pellitory of the Wall beside the back yard of the Obs; a single adult was also found in one of the moth-traps.  At Fortuneswell, six L-album Wainscot and a Garden Tiger (E Cockburn). 

At Preston, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth and three Delicate (R Lambert), and two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, two Pearly Underwing, three White-point, seven Silver Y, a Vestal, two Dark Spectacle, four Red Underwing and a Palpita vitrealis (M Forster).  Nearby at Broadwey, a male Four-spotted Footman, Palpita vitrealis, Dark Sword-grass, Toadflax Pug, Frosted Orange and three Red Underwing (P Harris). 

A good haul at Durlston, although nothing exceptional, just high migrant activity.  nine Convolvulus Hawk, four Palpita vitrealis, three Ostrinia nubilalis, four Delicate, two Heath Rustic, five Dioryctria abietella, 60 Pearly Underwing, 35 Turnip, 43 Dark Sword-grass, three Small Mottled Willow, 18 Scarce Bordered Straw, six Vestal (P Davey).  A Vestal and a Centre-barred Sallow at Ferndown (D Couzens).  At Walditch, five Vestal, a Scarce Bordered Straw, an Ostrinia nubilalis and an L-album Wainscot were the highlights, with the first Barred Sallow of the year.  At Shaggs there were two Vestal, a male Four-spotted Footman and an Ostrinia nubilalis (M Parsons).  Nearby at Swanage, 17 Rush Veneer, one Palpita vitrealis, three White-point, one Silver Y, four Vestal, one Convolvulus Hawk-moth, and one Pearly Underwing (S Patton).

A Scarce Bordered Straw and three Vestal at Winterborne Stickland (per Dorset B C website).  Despite promising conditions, not much to show for it: a different Vestal to yesterday at Lyons Gate (T A Box).

10 September 2006
There were precious few signs of renewed immigration in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, where the overnight totals were 40 Rush Veneer, 11 Delicate, four Rusty-dot Pearl, four Silver Y, three Pearly Underwing, two Small Mottled Willow, two Scarce Bordered Straw and singles of Dioryctria abietella, Evergestis extimalis, Vestal and Dark Sword-grass (M Cade).  At Preston, a Portland Ribbon Wave was a first for the garden, though there was very little else of note - two Silver Y and a White-point (M Forster).  At Fortuneswell, a White-point and a Pearly Underwing, and Bright-line Brown-eye and Buff Ermine still hanging on in small numbers (E Cockburn).  At Broadwey, a Vestal, two European Corn Borer and a Dark Sword-grass (P Harris).  Just the one Rush Veneer at Chickerell was the only moth of note (C Pinder).

At Swanage, 22 Rush Veneer, eight White-point, one Pearly Underwing and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (S Patton).

At Ferndown, a Small Mottled Willow, eight Heath Rustic and the first Autumnal Rustic of the year, and three new to the garden: Frosted Orange, Brindled Green and Vapourer (D Couzens).   At Walditch, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (M Parsons).

At Cowden, Charminster, a Turnip and a Rush Veneer (T A Box).  The only moth of note at Lyons Gate was a Vestal (T A Box).  At Kingston, 350 moths of 53 species: two Vestal, and a Pearly Underwing were new for the site, and the only other migrants were a Dark Sword-grass, five Silver Y, a Rusty-dot Pearl, and 12 Rush Veneer; other firsts for the site were Barred Hook-tip, Acleris sparsana and Nephopterix angustella, and a late Bright-line Brown-eye (P Benham).

9 September 2006
A daytime record of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, on a window ledge inside a Little Chef at Corfe Mullen, thankfully released from its fate (S & T Wright). 

There were very thin pickings in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, with the immigrant tally consisting of 27 Rush Veneer, 12 Silver Y, two each of Diamond-back, Rusty-dot Pearl, Pearly Underwing, and Small Mottled Willow, and singles of Dioryctria abietella, European Corn Borer, Vestal, Dark Sword-grass, Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw.  A further interesting moth discovery was of a single specimen of Ochsenheimeria taurella (formerly O. mediopectinellus) netted in the early afternoon near the Eight Kings Quarry; this is the first modern record of this day-flying species that has no doubt been overlooked since the Victorian era when it was stated to be common in places on the island (M Cade).  A pink Vestal from Broadwey (P Harris).  At Chickerell, a Rusty-dot Pearl, two Rush Veneer, a Vestal and a Cypress Pug in the actinic trap overnight and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden during the day (C Pinder). 

At Swanage, one Diamond-back, 27 Rush Veneer, two Scarce Bordered Straw, two Vestal, a Pearly Underwing (with deformed wing so must have bred locally), three White-point, a Small Mottled Willow, and a Dark Sword-grass (S Patton).

Three traps in the garden last night and the actinics did far better than the MV for numbers and diversity, although mostly common species, and the only moths of note were a Pale Mottled Willow and a first for the garden, a Large Wainscot, hopefully not 'imported' from yesterday's trapping session nearby...(T A Box).  At Kingston, a reasonable haul of 157 moths of 40 species: migrants were thin on the ground with only one Dark Sword-grass, a Silver Y and four Rush Veneer; other notables included firsts for the year of Black Rustic, two Lunar Underwing and a Frosted Orange as well as two Pale Eggar and a Vine's Rustic; in the final egg box, was a first record for the site, was a Small Dusty Wave (P Benham).  At Gillingham, Rush Veneer, Dusky Thorn, Ruby Tiger and a Silver Y (G Hopkins).

The field meeting at Alner's Gorse provided quality rather than quantity: ten Oak Lutestring, a Pearly Underwing and a White-point (per G Hopkins).

8 September 2006
Another clear and cool night, with fewer moths in the traps.  The pick of a very poor overnight catch of immigrant moths in the Portland Obs garden traps were two Palpita vitrealis, two Scarce Bordered Straw, a Delicate, a Cosmopolitan and a Small Mottled Willow (M Cade). At Preston, Scarce Bordered Straw, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass and the first two L-album Wainscot of the year there (M Forster).  A poor night at Broadwey, the only moths of note were a Scarce Bordered Straw and the first Frosted Orange of the autumn (P Harris).  At Chickerell, two White-point and a Cypress Pug (C Pinder). 

A Clepsis spectrana which was new for observer, and four Large Wainscot at Batcombe Barn reedbeds (T A Box).  At Babylon Hill, a Light Emerald was a new for the garden, and a second generation Small Blood-vein, and a Cypress Pug were the highlights among a small catch (M Yeates).  A male Lilac Beauty at Gillingham, the first there for ten years, and also Canary-shouldered Thorn, two Dusky Thorn and a Lime-speck Pug (G Hopkins).

7 September 2006
Clear overnight and much cooler than of late - there was a noticeable drop in immigrant numbers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps: 66 Rush Veneer, 31 Silver Y, ten Pearly Underwing, five Diamond-back, four Rusty-dot Pearl, three Dark Sword-grass, three Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw and singles of Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Small Mottled Willow and Ni Moth (M Cade).  At Chickerell just the one migrant, a Pearly Underwing, and a late Oak Eggar among a small number of common species (C Pinder.  Just 16 common moths in the trap at Lyons Gate (T A Box).  At Gillingham, a Silver Y and the first Lunar Underwing there of the autumn (G Hopkins).

6 September 2006
Despite the clear and and increasingly cool conditions overnight decent numbers of moths were attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, with the fifth Porter's Rustic of the autumn the pick of the captures; other immigrant totals there included 341 Rush Veneer, 61 Silver Y, 23 Rusty-dot Pearl, 18 Dark Sword-grass, 15 Pearly Underwing, 13 Scarce Bordered Straw, 11 Delicate, four Vestal, three Bordered Straw, two Convolvulus Hawk-moth, and single Palpita vitrealis, Evergestis extimalis and Small Mottled Willow (M Cade). 

A Convolvulus Hawk-moth, at least two Beautiful Gothic and L-album Wainscot at Fortuneswell, Portland (E Cockburn).  At Chickerell, another Hummingbird Hawk-moth by day, and overnight migrants include five Rush Veneer, a Vestal and a Diamond-back, while others of interest include Cypress Pug, Cypress Carpet, Marbled Green and Pinion Streaked Snout (C Pinder).  At Preston two Striped Hawk-moth, an Old Lady, two Dark Sword-grass, a Scarce Bordered Straw and a European Corn Borer (R Lambert).  At Broadwey, a Delicate, two European Corn Borer and a Lilac Beauty (P Harris). 

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on clematis during evening, Stanpit, Christchurch (C Nightingale).   At Lyons Gate, five Rush Veneer, two Sharp-angled Carpet and an Oak Nycteoline (T A Box).  Three Silver Y at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

5 September 2006
By day, up to ten Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Shaggs (M Parsons), and two on a buddleia in a garden at Shaftesbury (G Hopkins). 

In clearer and cooler conditions than the night before there were fewer moths on the wing at Portland Bill; immigrants/wanderers attracted to the Obs garden traps included 151 Rush Veneer, nine Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Delicate, four each of Pearly Underwing, Scarce Bordered Straw, Silver Y, three Palpita vitrealis, three Vestal, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Heath Rustic (M Cade); another Convolvulus Hawk-moth was caught overnight in a garden trap at Fortuneswell (per M Cade). 

A selection of moths trapped at Durlston overnight are included in the photos below (P Davey).

At Chickerell, a first for the garden, a Gem, and a Cypress Pug, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on buddleia (C Pinder).   At Walditch, a Cosmopolitan, four Scarce Bordered Straw, a Delicate, a Palpita vitrealis, 13 White Spot and a single wandering Heath Rustic (probably first for the garden) (M Parsons).  Another wandering Heath Rustic at Lyons Gate, otherwise a good selection: migrants include a White-point, five Rush Veneer and a Vestal; other oddities were a very dark and late Ruby Tiger, a late Marbled White-spot, a Bright-line Brown-eye, and a Small Dusty Wave was a first (previously overlooked?) for the garden (T A Box).  One Silver Y and a Rush Veneer at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

4 September 2006
In still, muggy conditions overnight there were lots of moths on the wing, with the Portland Obs garden traps attracting a fair variety of immigrants: 431 Rush Veneer, 25 Rusty-dot Pearl, 12 Silver Y, ten Scarce Bordered Straw, six Delicate, five Palpita vitrealis, five Pearly Underwing, two Evergestis extimalis, two Small Mottled Willow and singles of Diamond-back, Loxostege sticticalis, Vestal, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Dark Sword-grass, Cosmopolitan and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Elsewhere. in Weymouth, five Palpita vitrealis, a Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw, and a Duponchelia fovealis (P Sterling).  At Preston, three Striped Hawk-moth, a Gem, three Scarce Bordered Straw, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (R Lambert).  Nearby, at Broadwey, three Scarce Bordered Straw, a Bordered Straw, two Palpita vitrealis, a Dark Spectacle and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Broadwey (P Harris).  

At Walditch, three Scarce Bordered Straw, singles each of Delicate, Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow and a Palpita vitrealis, amongst hundreds (possibly in the region of 4-500) Large Yellow Underwing.  At Shaggs during the day, were up to eight Hummingbird Hawk-moth at any one time, and a Striped Hawk-moth, Walditch (M Parsons).  A few migrants at Lyons Gate: five Rush Veneer, a White-point, Scarce Bordered Straw and a Silver Y, while Feathered Gothic was a first for the year (T A Box).  At Gillingham, four Rush Veneer, two Straw Dot and a Silver Y (G Hopkins).

3 September 2006
With the wind having eased away during the hours of darkness there was a slightly better catch of moths at the Portland Obs; immigrants attracted to the traps included 84 Rush Veneer, 11 Delicate, four Pearly Underwing, three Silver Y and singles of Diamond-back, Evergestis extimalis, Ancylosis oblitella, Dark Sword-grass and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).   At Broadwey, two Cosmopolitan, a Palpita vitrealis and a Dark Sword-grass (P Harris).  In Preston, Striped Hawk-moth and Palpita vitrealis (R Lambert).  Three Rush Veneer and a Vine's Rustic at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

2 September 2006
At Portland, singles of Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw were the only captures of note amongst very small numbers of commoner immigrants attracted to the Obs garden moth-traps overnight (M Cade).  However, at Preston, a surprisingly large number of moths in the three garden traps for such a blustery night, included 243 Large Yellow Underwing, 154 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 48 Vine's Rustic, five White-point and singles of Silver Y, Scarce Bordered Straw and Dog's Tooth (M Forster).

1 September 2006
Unfortunately the promising-looking mild southerly wind overnight was much too strong to expect too much reward in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, where immigrants caught included 101 Rush Veneer, three Pearly Underwing, two Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, two Silver Y and singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Loxostege sticticalis and Bordered Straw (M Cade).   At Preston, four White-point, two Palpita vitrealis and singles of Delicate, Dark Spectacle and Porter's Rustic (first for the garden) (M Forster).  Just to prove that some of these coastal migrants do eventually struggle inland, a first for the garden at Lyons Gate, a Scarce Bordered Straw, with the only other migrant, a Rush Veneer (T A Box).

31 August 2006
Immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 59 Rush Veneer, three Delicate, two Scarce Bordered Straw, a Rusty-dot Pearl, a Palpita vitrealis, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a Pearly Underwing, a White-speck and a Painted Lady butterfly (M Cade).  Nearby at Wyke Regis, a Treble-bar, Tawny Shears, Yellow Belle and two White-point (D Foot).  At Preston, an Old Lady and four White-point (M Forster) and an Old Lady and a Vestal (R Lambert).  At Broadwey, Evergestis extimalis, Palpita vitrealis, Small Mottled Willow, Pearly Underwing, and Dark Sword-grass (P Harris). 

A better night of late, with reasonable selection at Lyons Gate: a Diamond-back, three Sharp-angled Carpet, and another first for the garden, a White-point.  Nearby at Minterne Seat Coppice, a Cloaked Carpet and a Sharp-angled Carpet (T A Box).  A Rusty-dot Pearl and a late Ruby Tiger at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

30 August 2006
In windy but quite muggy conditions overnight the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were 43 Rush Veneer, three Pearly Underwing, three Scarce Bordered Straw, a Striped Hawk-moth and a White-speck (M Cade).  At Broadwey, two Scarce Bordered Straw, singles of Bordered Straw, Palpita vitrealis, and Dark Spectacle (P Harris).  Among 70-odd moths at Lyons Gate were single Rush Veneer and Silver Y, a first for the garden Ancylosis oblitella, a Sharp-angled Carpet, and the first Centre-barred Sallow of the autumn (T A Box).  At Gillingham, more a taste of summer with Brimstone, Heart and Dart, Poplar Hawk-moth, Oak Hook-tip and Straw Dot (G Hopkins).

29 August 2006
The strong north-westerlies overnight put paid to any trapping at Portland.  At Chickerell, a Bordered Straw, a White-point, and new for the garden a Vestal (C Pinder).  Among very slim pickings at Lyons Gate, was a common autumn moth, new to the garden, Ypsolopha parenthesella (T A Box).  At Gillingham, Dusky Thorn, Rush Veneer, and a new for the garden Catoptria falsella (G Hopkins). 

28 August 2006
The wind and cool temperature obviously took its toll, with no trapping at all at Portland, and the only reports received was of another mediocre night's catch two Red Underwing and at least ten White-point (surely locally bred?) at Broadwey (P Harris), and only two White-point and a single Silver Y worthy of mention at Chickerell (C Pinder).  A Rush Veneer and Centre-barred Sallow at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

27 August 2006
Two Striped  and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth were the best of the poor overnight catch of moths at the Portland Obs, where more routine immigrants attracted to the traps included 29 Rush Veneer, nine Silver Y, four Pearly Underwing, three Delicate, two Dark Sword-grass, two Scarce Bordered Straw, a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (M Cade).  At Preston, five White-point and singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Gold Spot and Currant Pug were the highlights from amongst c.360 moths of 35 species in the garden traps (M Forster).  A Porter's Rustic trapped in Weymouth (P Sterling per P Harris).  Meanwhile, a solitary Silver Y was attracted to the porch light at Lyons Gate (T A Box).

26 August 2006
Striped Hawk-moth remained the moth of the moment at the Portland Obs where three more were attracted to the traps overnight; other immigrants there included 111 Rush Veneer, 26 Silver Y, nine Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Pearly Underwing, six Scarce Bordered Straw, five Dark Sword-grass, a Delicate, a Small Mottled Willow and a Dark Spectacle (M Cade).  At Preston, three Scarce Bordered Straw, four White-point and a Mouse Moth (M Forster).  At Broadwey, just three Scarce Bordered Straw, a Palpita vitrealis and the first Red Underwing of the year were of note while more impressive was a Great Diving Beetle in one of the traps (P Harris).  The only migrants to struggle inland to Lyons Gate were a Rush Veneer and a Pearly Underwing (T A Box).

Within yards of the Dorset border, Jack caught an Anania verbascalis, a scarce notable B pyralid, which was the first record for Somerset (J Astley).

25 August 2006
A daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth on geraniums, Oakdale, Poole (J Gould), and two on buddleia at Chickerell (C Pinder).

The breezy conditions spoilt overnight mothing at Portland and elsewhere in the county, although there were still fair numbers of immigrants on the wing. The Portland Obs garden traps produced totals of 116 Rush Veneer, 29 Silver Y, eight Scarce Bordered Straw, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, five Dark Sword-grass, four Pearly Underwing, two Striped Hawk-moth and singles of  Diamond-back, Ancylosis oblitella, Maiden's Blush, Delicate, Small Mottled Willow and Bordered Straw, whilst trapping elsewhere on the island produced highlights that included two Striped Hawk-moth at Fortuneswell and two Palpita vitrealis, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Striped Hawk-moth at Freshwater Bay.  Elsewhere, at Preston singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass, Crescent Dart and Poplar Hawk-moth, two each of White-point, Copper Underwing and Gold Spot (M Forster).  Three Dark Sword-grass and three Scarce Bordered Straw at Broadwey (P Harris).  29 species at Chickerell, with Rush Veneer and Silver Y (C Pinder), and 77 moths of 32 species at Lyons Gate, including two Silver Y and a Rusty-dot Pearl (T A Box).  At Babylon Hill, 149 moths, mainly Large Yellow Underwing, the best of the rest was a Sharp-angled Carpet (M Yeates).

24 August 2006
At Chickerell, a daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth on buddleia in the garden at lunchtime (C Pinder).

Overnight, despite the clear and surprisingly chilly conditions, quite good numbers of immigrants were attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps: 163 Rush Veneer, 66 Silver Y, 15 Dark Sword Grass, 13 Pearly Underwing, 12 Scarce Bordered Straw, four Rusty-dot Pearl, two Diamond-back, two Bordered Straw and singles of Striped Hawk-moth, White-speck, Cosmopolitan, Delicate and Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  Elsewhere, the low temperatures overnight were reflected in much reduced catches: just 17 spp, but nothing of note, in the trap at Chickerell (C Pinder), and a total of only 18 moths at Lyons Gate, including one Rush Veneer (T A Box).

23 August 2006

News from Portland kindly supplied by Martin, were two more Convolvulus Hawk-moth and the first two White-speck of the autumn;  immigrants otherwise consisted of just 46 Rush Veneer, 24 Silver Y, eight Dark Sword-grass, eight Scarce Bordered Straw, seven Pearly Underwing, three Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Diamond-back, Small Mottled Willow and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  A very dark Scarce Bordered Straw at Broadwey was of note (P Harris).  To the west at West Bexington, there was a Death's Head Hawk-moth (R Eden per P Harris).

22 August 2006

At Portland, another Porter's Rustic (the three from a couple of nights ago are still safely potted indoors in an attempt to secure eggs) was the pick of the overnight catch in the Obs garden moth-traps that also attracted 173 Rush Veneer, 21 Silver Y, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, four Dark Sword-grass, three Diamond-back, three Hummingbird Hawk-moth, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Ancylosis oblitella, two Pearly Underwing, two Delicate, a Palpita vitrealis and a Small Mottled Willow; elsewhere two Striped Hawk-moth were caught overnight in a garden moth-trap at Fortuneswell (M Cade). 

At Broadwey, Striped Hawk-moth (5th one this year at this site), three Scarce Bordered Straw, a Palipta vitrealis, two Small Mottled Willow and eight White-point (P Harris).

A remarkable haul of migrants were logged at Puddletown: Many-lined, Porter's Rustic, 32 Scarce Bordered Straw, 20 Small Mottled Willow, 99 White-point, four Cosmopolitan, four Dark Sword-grass, a Delicate, a Gem, 89 Silver Y, two Palpita vitrealis, a European Corn Borer, 231 Rush Veneer, and eight Rusty-dot Pearl (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

21 August 2006

Two Convolvulus Hawk-moth were notable new arrivals in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, whilst other immigrant totals there included 217 Rush Veneer, 49 Silver Y, 11 Dark Sword-grass, 11 Scarce Bordered Straw, ten Pearly Underwing, nine Rusty-dot Pearl, five Small Mottled Willow, three Diamond-back, three Palpita vitrealis, two Bordered Straw, singles each of Striped Hawk-moth, Delicate and Cosmopolitan (M Cade). 

At Chickerell, Jersey Tiger, Cypress Pug (first for garden) White-point and Silver Y plus two Rush Veneer (C Pinder).

20 August 2006

On the moth front there was precious little evidence of an upsurge in immigration at Portland Bird Observatory, save for a remarkable total of three Porter's Rustic caught in the Obs garden traps; other immigrants in the traps there included 236 Rush Veneer, 24 Silver Y, seven Diamond-back, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, four Dark Sword-grass, three each of Delicate, Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw, two Cosmopolitan and singles of Ancylosis oblitella, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Pearly Underwing (M Cade).  At Preston, four White-point and singles of Ni Moth, Bordered Straw, Crescent, Gold Spot and Currant Pug - Mark comments that in any other year he would have been very pleased with this but thinks we've been spoilt! (M Forster).  A Palpita vitrealis the only real highlight at Broadwey (P Harris).

20 August 2006

Not wishing to take another Catocala sp on the garage wall in the daytime at Lyons Gate for granted like last year, the resting specimen was carefully checked, and yes it was a Red Underwing (T A Box).

Overnight, a Bulrush Wainscot was a new for the garden at Lyons Gate, and one migrant Silver Y (T A Box).

19 August 2006

A breezy night all round, however Portland still managed a few immigrants, which included, 190 Rush Veneer, 29 Silver Y, nine Dark Sword-grass, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, five Pearly Underwing, four Diamond-back, three Delicate, three Scarce Bordered Straw, two Small Mottled Willow and singles of Palpita vitrealis, Ancylosis oblitella, Striped Hawk-moth, Cosmopolitan and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Preston, two White-point and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Copper Underwing, Jersey Tiger, Pretty Chalk Carpet and Southern Wainscot (M Forster), and also in Preston a Striped Hawk-moth and a Bordered Straw (R Lambert per P Harris).  Nearby at Broadwey, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in a trap (P Harris).

There was a Dark Spectacle, Bordered Straw, Ringed China-mark and the first record of Peacock in a garden at Merley, Wimborne (D & M Godfrey).  At Lyons Gate, the only migrant a Rush Veneer among a small number of common species (T A Box).  At Babylon Hill, Orange Swift, Cypress Pug, Shark, Copper Underwing and Red Underwing, although not uncommon, were all new to the garden (M Yeates).

18 August 2006

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps were quieter than yesterday, with two more Striped Hawk-moth the most noteworthy capture; other totals of immigrants/wanderers included 78 Rush Veneer, 14 Scarce Bordered Straw, 14 Silver Y, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, 12 Small Mottled Willow, three Diamond-back, three Dark Sword-grass, two Cosmopolitan, and singles each of Ancylosis oblitella, Maiden's Blush and Delicate (M Cade).  Elsewhere on Portland, on a garden step in a private garden, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (P Geran).  At Wyke Regis, a Striped Hawk-moth and a Scarce Bordered Straw were both first for the year there (D Foot).  A quieter night at Preston too, the highlights being two White-point and singles of Gold Spot, Southern Wainscot and Palpita vitrealis.(M Forster).  A Striped Hawk-moth and a Drinker at Durlston (per Durlston C P website).  At Verwood, a Pine Hawk-moth, Scarce Footman and Maiden's Blush among the common species, and a regular Hummingbird Hawk-moth that has turned up between 1800 and 2000 each evening to feed on flowers (M Weaver).  The highlights at Lyons Gate were a Rusty-dot Pearl, and at Little Minterne Hill a Rush Veneer and a Vine's Rustic (T A Box).  A Scarce Bordered Straw was a first for the garden, and a Small Mottled Willow at Babylon Hill (M Yeates).

17 August 2006

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps produced a quality highlight in the form of an Oak Processionary - another first record for the island - caught overnight; other totals of immigrants/wanderers included 88 Rush Veneer, 50 Small Mottled Willow, 38 Rusty-dot Pearl, 20 Scarce Bordered Straw, 19 Dark Sword-grass, nine Silver Y, four each of Diamond-back, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Pearly Underwing, and Bordered Straw, three Ancylosis oblitella, two Gem, two Cosmopolitan and singles of Nephopterix angustella, Delicate, Dark Spectacle and Painted Lady butterfly (M Cade).  Nearby in Preston, highlights in the garden were singles of Striped Hawk-moth (only the 2nd garden record), Scarce Bordered Straw, Jersey Tiger, Maiden's Blush, Galium Carpet, Purple Bar and Mecyna flavalis.(M Forster).

At Kingston, by day a very fresh Red Underwing discovered at roost, but overnight the most unexpected first record, a single Horse Chestnut; other wanderers included small numbers of Silver Y, Rush Veneer, Diamond-back, and three Small Mottled Willow - the pick of the rest included the first Black Arches of the year, a Maiden's Blush, and a Crocidesema plebjeana (P Benham).

16 August 2006

Immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 12 Small Mottled Willow and 11 Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Nearby at Preston, 34 species with singles of Scarce Bordered Straw and Gem, two White-point, three Southern Wainscot, a Crescent and a (presumably 2nd generation) Cream-bordered Green Pea and a Palpita vitrealis (M Forster).  At Dorchester, a few migrants: a Ni moth, ten Silver Y, 16 Rush Veneer, five Rusty-dot Pearl, and a White-point (J Down).

15 August 2006

There was a noticeable decline in immigrant numbers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps which attracted by way of quality just four Small Mottled Willow, a Palpita vitrealis, a Bordered Beauty and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).

At Ferndown, a Mullein Wave (new to the garden), plus a Burnished Brass, two Maiden's Blush, a Cypress Pug, and a Yellow-barred Brindle; also the first Flounced Rustics of the year (D Couzens).  Two new pugs for the garden at Kingston: Tawny-speckled and Cypress Pug (P Benham).

14 August 2006

Overnight moth-trapping at the Portland Obs wasn't quite as busy as yesterday but there were still plenty of immigrants on the wing: 64 Rush Veneer, 24 Silver Y, 13 Straw Dot, 11 Scarce Bordered Straw, ten Small Mottled Willow, nine Rusty-dot Pearl, three Dark Sword-grass, one Pearly Underwing, two Diamond-back, a Ni Moth, three Ancylosis oblitella, and singles each of Striped Hawk-moth, Brown-veined Wainscot and a Bordered Straw, along with a single Red Admiral butterfly; second brood White-points are also now becoming very conspicuous with a total of 67 caught overnight (this species is now a relatively common breeding resident at the Bill) (M Cade).

There were up to five Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the Butterfly Conservation HQ grounds at Shaggs, and also a Grass Eggar and an Evergestis pallidata, while  at Walditch, at least three Jersey Tiger, and singles each of Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw and White-point.(M Parsons). 

At Ferndown, four species of Thorn: Canary-shouldered, August, September and Dusky (D Couzens).

13 August 2006

A Jersey Tiger by day, at rest on a water butt, Bridport (J Tilley).

Yesterday's improvement in immigrant numbers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps proved not to be a flash in the pan, with last night's catch (in surprisingly still, overcast and muggy conditions) including totals of 143 Rush Veneer, 61 Silver Y, 18 Rusty-dot Pearl, 17 Scarce Bordered Straw, 12 Small Mottled Willow, seven Dark Sword-grass, six Straw Dot, three Pearly Underwing, two Diamond-back, two Ni Moth, and one each of Palpita vitrealis, Ancylosis oblitella, Southern Wainscot, Delicate and Bordered Straw (M Cade).

12 August 2006

Daytime records at Durlston of at least four Hummingbird Hawk-moth, and records of Oak Eggar, Silver Y and Yellow Shell (per Durlston C P website).

Cool and breezy overnight kept numbers generally low, but despite the seemingly very unfavourable prevailing conditions there was a noticeable increase in immigrant numbers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, including 28 Silver Y, 19 Rush Veneer, eight Dark Sword-grass, four Pearly Underwing, four Scarce Bordered Straw, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Straw Dot, two Bordered Straw and singles of Diamond-back, Ancylosis oblitella, Oak Hook-tip and Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  The highlight at Verwood was a Pine Hawk-moth (M Weaver). 

A fresh specimen of Eastern Bordered Straw caught at West Bexington, was undoubtedly bred in Europe, or even the UK, so would be worth checking Bordered Straws carefully (R Eden per S Nash).

A migrant Rush Veneer at Lyons Gate, an Agriphila inquinatella and very worn Grass Emerald at Giant Head, and a faded Mocha and a very bright Pinion-streaked Snout in Black Wood, Middlemarsh (T A Box).

11 August 2006

The traps are getting emptier by the day...very little at Portland overnight, although another Langmaid's Yellow Underwing turned up, with Martin speculating that they may even be resident at a few south coast sites as they have turned up with some regularity when other migrant activity is minimal.  Otherwise, the only immigrants attracted to the Obs garden moth-traps overnight were six Silver Y, four Scarce Bordered Straw, three Diamond-back, one Rusty-dot Pearl and a Dark Sword-grass. (M Cade).  The highlights at Preston a singles Bordered Straw and Shark and a rather less than impressive two Silver Y! (M Forster).  Struggling to report anything of interest, there was the 26th Blood-vein of the year at Lyons Gate......(T A Box).

10 August 2006

During the day at Shaggs, at least six Hummingbird Hawk-moth at buddleia (M Parsons).

It was still slow on the moth front, with the Portland Obs garden moth-traps attracting just singles of Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered Straw by way of scarcer immigrants.  Only moths of any note at Broadwey were a Scarce Bordered Straw and a Bordered Beauty (P Harris).  At Preston singles of Bordered Straw (a dark individual, locally bred?), Pearly Underwing, Gold Spot, White- spotted Pug and Cypress Pug and two Buff Footman (M Forster).

9 August 2006

A daytime record of two Chalk Carpet, a Synaphe punctalis and Oncocera semirubella at Godlingston Hill (M Parsons).

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps remained fairly quiet, with three Bordered Straw, two Small Mottled Willow, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a Scarce Bordered Straw the only less common immigrants recorded (M Cade).  A clear moonlit night, and cool early morning meant only 18 moths of ten species in the trap at Lyons Gate, and nothing of any note (T A Box).   At Gillingham, three Silver Y and a Rusty-dot Pearl (G Hopkins).

8 August 2006

Following the recent record of an obvious migrant Reed Dagger at Portland, another was also trapped recently at Christchurch, possibly part of the same movement.  The moth, a female, has laid a batch of eggs and if larvae emerge, there will be an attempt to rear them (per P Davey)

By day, several Jersey Tiger and a Magpie at Chickerell, Weymouth (per Dorset B C website). 

In less than suitable conditions for mothing immigrants and wanderers attracted to the Portland Obs garden traps overnight included 34 Silver Y, 13 Diamond-back, nine Rush Veneer, six Rusty-dot Pearl, seven Dark Sword-grass, seven Straw Dot, three Small Mottled Willow, two Striped Hawk-moth, two Pearly Underwing, singles each of Ancylosis oblitella, Pempelia genistella, Delicate, Scarce Bordered Straw and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Few moths at Wyke Regis, but two new for the garden: Square-spot Dart and a Tawny-speckled Pug (D Foot).  At Broadwey, rather quiet with the best being Black Arches, Brown-veined Wainscot, Barred Rivulet and Small Waved Umber (P Harris). 

At Shaggs, highlights were five Dioryctria sylvestrella, and singles each of Dog's Tooth, White-point and Bordered Straw (M Parsons).

Numbers well down, with highlights at Lyons Gate, 2nd records of Oak Eggar and Twin-spotted Wainscot, a very worn Mocha, a Sharp-angled Carpet, and migrant Small Mottled Willow and Rush Veneer (T A Box).

7 August 2006

A Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth by day, at Littledown, Bournemouth (per Dorset B C website).

In cooler and breezy conditions overnight moth numbers in the Portland Obs garden traps took a tumble although there were still more than a few morsels of quality, notably the first two Summer Fruit Tortrix Adoxophyes orana for the island and yet another Many-lined (the fifth this year and the eighth record for the island); other totals of immigrants/wanderers included 119 Silver Y, 40 Straw Dot, 38 Diamond-back, 38 Rusty-dot Pearl, 30 Rush Veneer, 12 Dark Sword-grass, seven Small Mottled Willow, six Scarce Bordered Straw, four Bordered Straw, two Ancylosis oblitella, two Pearly Underwing and singles of Water Veneer, Oak Hook-tip, Twin-spotted Wainscot and Delicate (M Cade).  At Broadwey, a much reduced catch last night; minor highlights were another Ni Moth, a Tawny-barred Angle and Bulrush Wainscot (P Harris).

At Walditch, a Small Mottled Willow, a Bordered Straw (dark forewings, so possibly local bred), an Ancylis obitella and two Jersey Tiger (M Parsons).

6 August 2006

A busy night at Portland, with immigrants and wanderers, including ca300 Silver Y, 74 Rush Veneer, 61 Rusty-dot Pearl, 56 Straw Dot, 21 Diamond-back, 16 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Dark Sword-grass, eight Small Rufous, six Bordered Straw, five Ni Moth, four Pearly Underwing, three Ancylosis oblitella, two Maiden's Blush, two Striped Hawk-moth, two Scarce Bordered Straw and singles each of Yponomeuta evonymella, Gem, Southern Wainscot, Crescent, Brown-veined Wainscot, Gold-spot and Small Marbled (M Cade).  A cracking specimen of a Tissue, first record for observer at Broadwey, with a supporting cast comprising two Ni Moth, Donacaula forficella, two Ancylosis oblitella and a Small Rufous (P Harris).  At Wyke Regis, singles of Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow and Ni Moth with also of note a Catoptria margaritella (D Foot).

Despite the stiff northerly breeze, there were plenty of southern and eastern migrants at Durlston: 20 Diamond-back, 25 Rusty-dot Pearl, one Udea fulvalis, 40 Rush Veneer, singles each of Sitochroa palealis, Evergestis extimalis, Dioryctria sylvestrella, Agdistis bennetii, Mocha, Birch Mocha, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, four Jersey Tiger, ten Dark Sword-grass, six Pearly Underwing, six White-point, a Great Brocade, 12 Small Mottled Willow, 18 Scarce Bordered Straw, 14 Bordered Straw, one Dark Spectacle, four Ni Moth and 200 Silver Y; residents included a Chalk Carpet and a White-lined Snout, plus lots of interesting micros to sort through…. (S Nash).

Disappointing numbers reported at Creekmoor, with the highlights a Scarce Footman and a newly emerged Poplar Hawk-moth (S Davis).  At Walditch, a Small Mottled Willow was the highlight (M Parsons).  At Gillingham, another wandering Calamotropha paludella appeared, and migrants included four Silver Y (G Hopkins).

5 August 2006

Another daytime walk, this time over Winfrith Heath, and a stunning Bordered Grey was netted, and also a Small Mottled Willow (M Forster).

At Portland there was a first and a second for the island: a single Donacaula forficella was the new species whilst a Great Brocade was the first record since one was trapped at the Obs in August 1964. The traps were again very busy with other immigrants/wanderers that included ca500 Silver Y, 83 Rusty-dot Pearl, 80 Rush Veneer, 42 Straw Dot, 26 Dark Sword-grass, 19 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Diamond-back, six Ni Moth, five Scarce Bordered Straw, three Bordered Straw, three Pearly Underwing, two each of Rosy Footman, Southern Wainscot and Crescent and singles of Palpita vitrealis, Ancylosis oblitella, Tawny-barred Angle, Black Arches, Brown-veined Wainscot and Small Rufous (M Cade).  At Broadwey: two Ni Moth, five Small Mottled Willow, three Jersey Tiger, five Sallow Kitten, seven Twin-spotted Wainscot, singles each of White-point, Four-spotted Footman (male), Gem, Small Waved Umber, Barred Rivulet, Brown-veined Wainscot and Bordered Beauty (P Harris).  At Preston, singles of Bordered Straw, Scarce Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow, Ni Moth, Saltern Ear and Gold Spot plus five Southern Wainscot, four Twin-spotted and one Brown-veined Wainscot; also first Flounced Rustic and Vapourer of the year (M Forster). 

Durlston pulled in a good haul (see photos below), and Peter Davey has commented on the significance of the Scarce Bordered Straw, Bordered Straw and the Small Mottled Willow (and the four Ni Moth captured but not pictured), on how relatively dark they all were and must surely denote residency for all four species. 

Regular migrants at Dorchester included eight Silver Y, 17 Rush Veneer, seven Small Mottled Willow, six Rusty-dot Pearl, one Dark Sword-grass and two Diamond-back (J Down).  At Walditch, three Small Mottled Willow (M Parsons).

A small selection at Verwood, the best being Pine Hawk-moth (M Weaver).

At East Hill, Godmanstone, migrants included seven Rush Veneer, three Diamond-back, a Small Mottled Willow, two Bordered Straw, and the first Dusky Sallow (three), Flounced Rustic and Straw Underwing of the year for the observer.  At Lyons Gate, the scarce Calamotropha paludella was new for the garden, and the local species Catoptria falsella was only the third record for the garden, and migrants included a Silver Y and a Rush Veneer (T A Box).  At Babylon Hill, a further two Calamotropha paludella were recorded, along with an Agriphila selasella, two Donacaula forficella, a Pyrausta purpuralis and three Small Mottled Willow (M Yeates).  At Gillingham, a Bordered Beauty, and two Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

4 August 2006

A daytime walk from Kimmeridge to Lulworth, in addition to all of the butterflies, were records of many Rush Veneer and Silver Y, two Bordered Straw, six Chalk Carpet, a Shaded Broad-bar and a Buff Footman (M Forster).  Also at Giant Hill, Cerne, four Chalk Carpet, and also a Pyrausta purpuralis and an Agriphila inquinatella (M Parsons).

It was very busy again overnight in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps with a Striped Hawk-moth and another Many-lined the pick of the oddities; other immigrants included 570 Silver Y, 91 Rush Veneer, 85 Rusty-dot Pearl, 33 Dark Sword-grass, 28 Diamond-back, 16 Small Mottled Willow, five Scarce Bordered Straw, five Bordered Straw, four Pearly Underwing, four Southern Wainscot, four Ni Moth, three Ancylosis oblitella and a Gem (M Cade).  At Preston a better night and an exciting addition to the garden list was a Great Brocade; otherwise three Twin-spotted Wainscot, four Southern Wainscot and singles of Oak Nycteoline, Small Rivulet, White-point, Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw and Ni Moth (M Forster).  At Broadwey: two male Four-spotted Footman, singles each of Oak Hook-tip, Scarce Bordered Straw, White-point, Dusky Thorn, and Wax Moth, two Dusky Sallow, six Twin-spotted Wainscot and a Maidens Blush (P Harris).

A Rush Veneer, Small Mottled Willow and a Silver Y were the only migrants at Ramshorn Hill, and at Lyons Gate, new for the garden were Agriphila inquinatella, Twin-spot Wainscot and Small Mottled Willow, while others of note were Small Seraphim, and migrants were two Rush Veneer, a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Small Rufous (T A Box).  At Alners Gorse, a Dingy Mocha, Ni Moth and three Brown-veined Wainscot (G Hopkins).  At Babylon Hill, just outside of Yeovil but just in Dorset, there was a Striped Hawk-moth, and a wandering Bulrush Wainscot (M Yeates).

3 August 2006

Despite the northerly winds, a few migrants about, the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were busier than expected overnight; a single Many-lined was the rarity highlight, whilst other immigrants/wanderers included 63 Silver Y, 31 Rusty-dot Pearl, 16 Rush Veneer, 13 Dark Sword-grass, and singles each of Diamond-back, Ancylosis oblitella, Brown-veined Wainscot, Small Rufous, and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Nearby at Preston, described as a poor night, with the only highlights being a Twin-spotted Wainscot, and the first Oak Eggar and Straw Underwing for the year.  At Broadwey, the highlights were: Olive, Bulrush Wainscot and Scarce Bordered Straw (P Harris). 

Puddletown pulled in a few migrants with a Many-lined, 21 Small Mottled Willow, two Ni Moth, three Vestal and a Bordered Straw (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

Small numbers at Lyons Gate with five migrant Rush Veneer, and four species of Ennominae: Canary-shouldered, Early, Purple and Dusky Thorn (T A Box).  At Kingston, a slightly disappointing catch given favourable conditions, of 350 moths of 65 species with migrants: two Small Mottled Willow, nine Silver Y and a Diamond-back, while the pyrale Donacaula forficella had obviously wandered from somewhere; also of note was the first Orange Swift of the year, and singles of Ear Moth, Double Kidney, and yet another Mocha for the site (P Benham).  At Gillingham, a Ni Moth, and a Least Yellow Underwing (G Hopkins).

2 August 2006

A daytime record of Chalk Carpet at Longbredy (M Parsons).

Again breezy overnight, with numbers generally well down.  A single Maiden's Blush in a garden at Southwell was the only reward for the overnight moth-trapping effort on Portland (per M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey, there were Gold Spot, Jersey Tiger and Bordered Straw (P Harris).  Bucking the trend at Durlston, there was a Striped Hawk-moth, three White-point, four Dark Sword-grass, a Bordered Straw, six Silver Y, a Rusty-dot Pearl and several Rush Veneer (per Durlston C P website).  At Lyons Gate, a Silver Y and three Rush Veneer and probably yesterdays Oak Eggar retrapped, were the highlights among meagre pickings (T A Box).  At Gillingham, two Rusty-dot Pearl, and a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

1 August 2006

Generally a quiet night moth-wise, dry but breezy; it was still too windy at Portland to expect much reward from the moth-traps overnight, although the relative shelter of a garden at Southwell provided some quality in the form of singles of Scarce Bordered Straw and Ni Moth.(per M Cade).  At Chickerell the only moths of note were two Rush Veneer and two Silver Y plus a single Jersey Tiger (C Pinder).  Only small numbers and a handful of species at Lyons Gate, however, there were three new ones for the garden: Pyraustra despicata, Oak Eggar and Slender Brindle, and migrants included four Rush Veneer (T A Box).

31 July 2006

Most moth'ers (mother just doesn't look right...) did not bother due to the wind and rain, but a trap at Broadwey showed there were still a few migrants about: a Vestal, two Dark Sword-grass and loads of Silver Y (P Harris).

30 July 2006

Poor weather conditions overnight throughout the County, so it was something of a surprise that two decent quality species - singles of Striped Hawk-moth and Four-spotted Footman - showed up at Portland; more routine fare attracted to the traps included 14 Silver Y, ten Rush Veneer, six Diamond-back, three Rusty-dot Pearl, two Dark Sword-grass and a Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  Nearby, four Small Mottled Willow were the only moths of note at Broadwey (P Harris).  At Gillingham, a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

29 July 2006

Daytime flying moths recorded at Durlston, included Six-spot Burnet, Chalk Carpet, Yellow Shell, Magpie, Oak Eggar and a Garden Tiger (per Durlston C P website).

Overnight, numbers well down generally due to inclement weather conditions, and at Portland the only immigrants/wanderers attracted to the Obs garden moth-traps were 15 Silver Y, six Rush Veneer, five Diamond-back, three Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Pempelia genistella, Latticed Heath, Dark Sword-grass and Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  At Preston, a Grass Emerald (new for garden), two Small Mottled Willow, two Southern Wainscot, one Silky Wainscot and 11 Brown-veined Wainscot, three Saltern Ear and a Dog's Tooth were the highlights (M Forster).  An actinic at Babylon Hill pulled in a Dingy Shears, an Ear agg. and a Dusky Sallow (M Yeates).  At Gillingham, a Saltern Ear (G Hopkins).

28 July 2006

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps were much quieter than in recent nights, something mirrored by all other observers; immigrants included 91 Silver Y, 39 Diamond-back, 29 Rush Veneer, 14 Rusty-dot Pearl, eight Dark Sword-grass, two Small Mottled Willow and a Red Admiral butterfly, whilst the pick of the wanderers were singles of Nut-tree Tussock, Twin-spotted Wainscot and Small Rufous (M Cade).  Highlights in the garden at Preston were a Least Carpet (new for garden), a Jersey Tiger, a Gold Spot, four Silky Wainscot, a Double Lobed and two Small Mottled Willow (M Forster). At Chickerell, migrants were singles of Rush Veneer and Small Mottled Willow and two Silver Y, while other notables were singles of Jersey Tiger and Kent Black Arches (C Pinder).  At Broadway, of note were Silky Wainscot, Peach Blossom, Purple Thorn, Maiden's Blush, two Dusky Sallow, a Small Mottled Willow and a Gold Spot (P Harris).  The first trapping for a while at Verwood, produced many Silver Y, two Pine Hawk-moth, Light Arches, Small Emerald, Festoon, and Scarce Footman amongst others (M Weaver).  At Lyons Gate, a Small Rufous, and migrant Rush Veneer numbered seven (T A Box).

27 July 2006

A cooler and cloudless night, so numbers inevitably down on recent nights.  At Portland, immigrants/wanderers included 354 Diamond-back, 165 Silver Y, 50 Rush Veneer, 14 Dark Sword-grass, nine Small Mottled Willow, eight Rusty-dot Pearl, five Bordered Straw, three Vestal, three Small Rufous and singles of Eudemis profundana, Calamotropha paludella, Birch Mocha (the second island record), Maiden's Blush, Pearly Underwing, Fen Wainscot, Mere Wainscot (the fourth island record) and Small Wainscot. Recent nights have been so busy on the moth front that a considerable backlog of unidentified micros has built up; one of yesterday's specimens has turned out to be another addition to the island list: the ash-feeder, Zelleria hepariella (M Cade).  At Chickerell, of interest were singles of Rush Veneer, Dark Sword-grass and Small Mottled Willow (first for garden), five Silver Y and two Kent Black Arches, another new one Agriphila selasella (C Pinder).  At Broadwey, highlights were Ni Moth, Corn Borer, three Small Mottled Willow, Pine Hawk-moth, Waved Umber and Bulrush Wainscot (P Harris).  Highlights in a garden at Preston were single Oak Hook-tip and Black Arches (both new to the garden) plus five Southern and a Twin-spotted Wainscot, two Ni Moth, singles each of Gem, Scarce Bordered Straw and Crescent Dart (M Forster).  At Lyons Gate, Pyrausta aurara was new for the garden, and the only migrants were a Small Rufous, Silver Y and a Rush Veneer.  Nearby. at Dyer's Farm, Middlemarsh, two Mocha, a Silver Y and a Rush Veneer were the highlights (T A Box).  At Gillingham, a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

26 July 2006

There was a daytime record of several Oak Eggar moths in the meadows at Durlston (per Durlston C P website).

It was another very busy night in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps with Silver Y (ca2000) and Diamond-back (ca 1500) accounting for the bulk of the numbers; among the long and varied list of other immigrants/wanderers there were 72 Rush Veneer, 29 Dark Sword-grass, ten Small Mottled Willow, seven Small China-mark, six Vestal, five Bordered Straw, five Ni Moth, four Southern Wainscot, four Brown-veined Wainscot, three Coleophora salicorniae, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Small Rufous, two Pebble Hook-tip, two Scarce Bordered Straw and singles of Eulamprotes wilkella, Cydia amplana, Platytes alpinella, Evergestis extimalis, Loxostege sticticalis, Gymnancyla canella, Ancylosis oblitella, Pempelia genistella, Maiden's Blush, Gem, Rosy Footman, Double-lobed and Pearly Underwing (M Cade).  At Broadwey: two each of Ni Moth, Jersey Tiger, Small Mottled Willow, Corn Borer and Vestal, singles of Barred Rivulet, Scarce Silver-lines, Pine Hawk-moth, Bordered Beauty, Small Rufous and Shaded Broadbar (P Harris).  At Chickerell, seven Kent Black Arches, a Fen Wainscot and Pyrausta aurara were both a first for the garden, and migrants included eight Silver Y and three Rush Veneer (C Pinder).   At Preston, a busy night in the garden, with highlights:- Royal Mantle, two Ni Moth, Small Mottled Willow, Dark Sword-grass, Small Rufous, eight Southern Wainscot, three Fen Wainscot, three Brown-veined Wainscot and a Silky Wainscot (f. bipunctata), Crescent, 131 Silver Y, Kent Black Arches and a bilateral gynandromorph Shuttle-shaped Dart (M Forster). 

A few of Portland's migrants filtered a bit inland, and at Dorchester there were 50 Silver Y, 15 Rush Veneer, seven Small Mottled Willow, three Rusty-dot Pearl, two Vestal and two Ni Moth, a Dark Sword-grass, and three Diamond-back (J Down).  At Batcombe Barn reedbeds, a couple of Fen Wainscot and a Diamond-back, and at Lyons Gate, a Small Rufous, four Silver Y and a Diamond-back (T A Box).  At Gillingham, a Gothic, and a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

25 July 2006

It seems the weather conditions overnight promised a little more than they delivered, however, there were good numbers of migrants around.  At Portland, within minutes of the Obs garden moth-traps being switched on they were swathed in hundreds of Diamond-back; however dawn revealed that the overnight catch didn't extend too far beyond very good numbers of Diamond-back and Silver Y; a Reed Dagger was a quality addition to the Portland list, whilst other immigrants included ca3500 Diamond-back, ca 500 Silver Y, 44 Rush Veneer, 21 Rusty-dot Pearl, 18 Dark Sword-grass, 15 Small Mottled Willow, two Vestal, one Cydia amplana, a Small Marbled and a Scarce Bordered Straw, along with six Red Admirals, three Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a Painted Lady and a Clouded Yellow in the traps. The best of the wanderers were two Platytes alpinella, singles each of Pediasia contaminella, Gymnancyla canella, Lesser Cream Wave and a Small Rufous (M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey, two notable pyrales, a Mecyna asinalis (new for the garden), and a Pyla fusca;  otherwise, six Small Mottled Willow, one Bordered Straw, two European Corn Borer, Slender Brindle, Peach Blossom and a Brown-veined Wainscot (P Harris).

At Durlston, there was an Orache trapped - not in fantastic condition but you can still see the greens, purples and golds!; other goodies included a Ni Moth, Small Rufous, Depressaria douglasella, Euleioptilus carphodactyla, Eudonia lineola and Epermenia insecurella (P Davey). 

Elsewhere, at Walditch: singles each of Cydia amplana, Dioryctria sylvestrella, Ni moth, Vestal, Delicate, and three Small Mottled Willow (M Parsons).  Highlights at Lyons Gate were a Leopard Moth, Barred Hook-tip and Fen Wainscot (all new for the garden), and a Cloaked Carpet; migrants included a male Four-spotted Footman, seven Diamond-back, two Rush Veneer and seven Silver Y (T A Box).

At Kingston in the north of the County, it was the busiest night ever there with 1,200 moths.  Of the 130 species, Marbled Green, Depressaria badiella and Recurvaria leucatella were new to the garden.  Migrants were mainly common with 60 Silver Y (easily the highest number there this year), two Dark Sword-grass, two Small Mottled Willow, four Diamond-back and seven Rush Veneer; with two Small Wainscot and two Calomtropha palludella perhaps wandering more locally.  Amongst the others were yet another Mocha, a heavily marked Maiden's Blush, Phoenix, Dark Umber and Maple, White-spotted, Plain and Bordered Pugs.... and c.250 common/lesser Common Rustic - glad they can't be reliably separated! (P Benham).  At Gillingham, five Diamond-back (G Hopkins).

24 July 2006

By day, as part of the request for sightings and information on Chalk Carpet, there were two at Chapmans Pool, and two at Stonehill Down (M Parsons).   

There were slightly reduced numbers of commoner immigrants overnight in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps but no lack of quality: rarities included a Pale Shoulder (the third Portland record) and another Diasemiopsis ramburialis, whilst the pick of the wanderers was the second island record of Dingy Shears; best of the rest were 40 Rush Veneer, 16 Rusty-dot Pearl, 11 Small Mottled Willow, three Dark Sword-grass, singles each of Small China-mark, European Corn Borer, Gymnancyla canella, Vestal, Lappet, Rosy Footman, Pine Hawk-moth, Southern Wainscot, Webb's Wainscot and a Brown-veined Wainscot (M Cade).  Elsewhere on Portland, singles of Vestal and Cream-bordered Green Pea were caught in a garden trap at Southwell and a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing was caught by a visiting moth-trapper working Tout Quarry overnight (per M Cade).   

At Gillingham, a Grass Emerald, and a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

23 July 2006

Overnight moth-trapping at the Portland Obs produced by way of rarities a Diasemiopsis ramburialis and another Small Marbled (the latter being the fifth in the last three nights) along with a slight increase in common immigrant numbers (for example 80 Rush Veneer, 20 Rusty-dot Pearl and nine Dark Sword-grass), whilst wanderers included two Fen Wainscot and singles of Pempelia genistella, Calamotropha paludella, Rosy Footman, Slender Brindle and Brown-veined Wainscot (M Cade).  A Dark Spectacle and a Dog’s Tooth were of note at Broadwey (P Harris).  Good numbers and plenty of variety in Chickerell, the highlights were a Jersey Tiger, two each of Kent Black Arches and Marbled Green and four Rush Veneer (C Pinder).  At Dorchester, the migrant highlights were: 26 Silver Y, 13 Rush Veneer, two Diamond-back, singles each of Rusty-dot Pearl, Vestal and Small Mottled Willow (J Down).  A single Small Mottled Willow at Walditch (M Parsons).  Said to be quieter of late but still managed 500+ moths of 79 species at Kingston: the clear highlight was a 2nd capture of the Mocha this year, suggesting that it may possibly be breeding thereabouts; other scarce records for the site included singles of Least Yellow Underwing and an Olive (P Benham).  At Gillingham, a Bordered Beauty (G Hopkins).

22 July 2006

Overnight moth-trapping at the Portland Obs was hindered by a brisk south-westerly wind, another Small Marbled was the pick of the catch, whilst other immigrants/wanderers included two Small Mottled Willow, two Scarce Bordered Straw, singles each of Cydia amplana, Gymnancyla canella and Vestal; another Vestal was caught in a garden moth-trap at Southwell (M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey, migrants included Striped Hawk-moth, two Scarce Bordered Straw, and Small Mottled Willow, while there was the first garden record of an Oblique Carpet, and notable records of Dusky Sallow, Phoenix and Small Emerald (P Harris).  A Vestal at Walditch (M Parsons).  At Alners Gorse there were three Dingy Mocha, and at Gillingham, a Scarce Silver-lines (G Hopkins).

21 July 2006

Not surprisingly considering the very muggy conditions, several observers report a busy night, with a good selection of migrant and resident wanderers.  At Portland, a specimen of what looks to be Bactra lacteana (still to be confirmed) along with both Dingy Shell and Minor Shoulder-knot were highlights (the first, second and third island records respectively), whilst the cross-Channel immigrant tally increased and included 38 Rusty-dot Pearl, 20 Rush Veneer, 11 Small Mottled Willow, six Dark Sword-grass, six Scarce Bordered Straw, five Vestal, three Small Marbled, a Cydia amplana and a Striped Hawk-moth; other noteworthy captures included five Yponomeuta rorrella, three European Corn Borer, two Pempelia genistella and singles of Yponomeuta evonymella, Eucosma obumbratana, Maiden's Blush, Pine Hawk-moth and Fen Wainscot (M Cade).  A good night at Preston with 66 species of macro including Small Purple-barred, Four-spotted Footman and a Pigmy Footman (a first for observer), and also a Migrant Hawker dragonfly (M Forster).  Chickerell weighed in with a site record of six Kent Black Arches, with the only others of note amongst good number were a Jersey Tiger and three Silver Y (C Pinder).  Migrants at Broadwey: the first Small Marbled for the observer, two Vestal and a Small Mottled Willow (P Harris). 

What was described as a 'spectacular night for migrant moths' at Durlston, combined totals gave several thousand Silver Y and Large Yellow Underwing, two Evergestis extimalis, four Conobathra tumidana and a Pedeasia contaminella, nine Sitochroa palealis, single Red Admiral, Least Carpet and Vestal, three Chalk Carpet, a Striped Hawk-moth, a female Four-spotted Footman, 11 Small Mottled Willow, four Scarce Bordered Straw, and 12 Bordered Straw and another large count of Kent Black Arches (S Nash and P Davey).  Migrants at Dorchester included five Rusty-dot Pearl, a Palpita Vitrealis, a Vestal, and 11 Rush Veneer, while new for the garden were Kent Black Arches and Endotricha flammealis (J Down).

Overnight at Hardy's Monument provided good numbers and a fair selection of species, the highlights: Cloaked, Sharp-angled and Galium Carpet, two July Belle, three Pine Hawk-moth, ten Red-necked Footman, and migrants included two Dioryctria sylvestrella (photo conf by Dr P Sterling), three Diamond-back, a Rush Veneer, and four Silver Y (T A Box).  A Splendid Brocade and a Ni Moth were caught at Walditch (M Parsons).

20 July 2006

A Tree-lichen Beauty was a decent new arrival in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, but immigrants/wanderers otherwise consisted of just ca150 Diamond-back, ca100 Silver Y, 14 Rush Veneer, six Rusty-dot Pearl, two each of European Corn Borer, Vestal, Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw, and single Pempelia genistella and Dark Spectacle (M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey, there were a couple of migrants, a Vestal and a Small Mottled Willow, and unexpected additions to the garden list included a Least Carpet and a Platytes alpinella (P Harris).  At Chickerell there were two more Kent Black Arches, making a 18 since June 30, compared with a total for last year of just seven; Jersey Tiger is also regular at present, another single last night makes eight in total over the last four nights - otherwise last night's catch included one each of Silver Y, Scarce Footman, Dingy Footman and Rosy Footman (C Pinder).  

A report of the rare immigrant a Silver-striped Hawk-moth from Durlston (per Durlston C P website), though this was reported as Striped Hawk-moth on Atropos website.  Another daytime record of a Synaphe punctalis, found in an office at Hurn, resting on a navigation chart, on an airway just north of Cyprus..... (T A Box).  At Shaggs: an Evergestis limbata, two Small Mottled Willow and a Calamotropha paludella were the highlights (M Parsons).  Overnight at Lyons Gate, most notable were a Cloaked Carpet and a Clay, with no evidence of any migrants amongst otherwise meagre pickings (T A Box).

19 July 2006

In decent-looking conditions overnight there was just a hint of some cross-Channel immigration of moths, with the Portland Obs garden traps attracting by way of quality two Psammotis pulveralis (there is just one previous record of this species for the island) and a Cydia amplana; other immigrants/wanderers included five Dark Sword-grass, four Rush Veneer, two Rusty-dot Pearl, two Hoary Footman, two Small Mottled Willow, singles each of Eucosma obumbratana, Calamotropha paludella, Catoptria pinella, European Corn Borer, Phycita roborella, Maiden's Blush, Vestal, Buff Footman, and a Scarce Bordered Straw.  In Weymouth, there was another Psammotis pulveralis and a Cydia amplana (P Sterling).  Nearby at Broadwey, no migrants, but the highlights were Oncocera semirubella, Dark Spectacle, Toadflax Pug, Corn Borer, and Oak Nycteoline (P Harris).  

There were reports of a Death's-head Hawk-moth at Langton Matravers (per Dorset B C website).  At Shaggs:two Calamotropha paludella, along with four Kent Black Arches and two Festoon (per M Parsons). 

At Walditch, migrants included five Jersey Tiger, one Vestal, a Small Mottled Willow, along with Marbled Green and Kent Black Arches (M Parsons).  Nearby at Black Ven, Charmouth, several Chalk Carpet, a Six-belted Clearwing and an Oncocera semirubella (per M Parsons).  At Stonebarrow Hill, Charmouth, there were six Royal Mantle (P Chapman). 

At Gillingham, two Diamond-back, a Calamotropha paludella, a Phoenix, and a Dusky Sallow (G Hopkins).

18 July 2006

At Portland, the easterly breeze freshened again and reduced the overnight moth catch a little at the Obs where the pick of the immigrants/wanderers were three Yponomeuta evonymella, three European Corn Borer, two Eudemis profundana, and singles of Yponomeuta plumbella, Conobathra tumidana, Ancylosis oblitella,  Horse Chestnut, Fen Wainscot and Webb's Wainscot; commoner immigrants consisted of little more than around 300 each of Diamond-back and Silver Y (M Cade).  Nearby at Broadwey: Scarce Silver-lines, Buff Footman, Clay Triple-lines, two Purple Thorn, Bordered Beauty, Wax Moth and an unusual tally of seven Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (P Harris).  Daytime Six-spot Burnet Moth at Durlston continue to be in evidence (per Durlston C P website).  Nearby at Lulworth Cove, Oncocera semirubella and Chalk Carpet (per M Parsons).  At Dorchester, new or notable moths included: White Satin, Haworth's Pug, Double Lobed, Double Square-spot, Barred Straw. Spinach, July Highflyer, Scarce, Rosy and Dingy Footman, Small Rivulet, Least Yellow Underwing, Pine Hawk-moth, Ruby Tiger with 20 Silver Y and three White-point (J Down).  Further inland, another heavy night of common species at Lyons Gate, with the most numbers recorded yet this year: highlights Red-necked Footman, Scallop Shell and nine Silver Y (T A Box).  At Gillingham, a Scarce Silver-lines (G Hopkins).

17 July 2006

It was another busy night in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, although once again most of the interest involved species that were presumably wandering from the mainland in the hot weather rather than arriving from the Continent. The limited selection of immigrants included four Rush Veneer, two Dark Sword-grass, a European Corn Borer, a Gem and a Red Admiral butterfly, whilst the pick of the wanderers was a specimen of Ypsolopha ustella (the first 'modern' record of this oak-feeder for Portland; the species was reported to be common in the Victorian era although that claim should perhaps be viewed with some suspicion bearing in mind the lack of indigenous oak trees on the island);  other wanderers attracted to the traps included two each of Bird-cherry Ermine, Zeiraphera isertana, and Platytes alpinella, and singles of Limnaecia phragmitella, Calamotropha paludella, Catoptria pinella, Grass Emerald, Scallop Shell, Lilac Beauty, Southern Wainscot, Green Silver-lines and a Marbled White-spot (M Cade).  Loads of moths at Broadwey, nothing rare but Dusky Sallow, Purple Thorn, Fen Wainscot, Oak Nycteoline, Double Lobed and European Corn Borer were of some note for the garden (P Harris).  Another bumper crop at Lyons Gate, always a challenge when on an early start for work: the best being the second Sycamore there for the year, and the first Copper Underwing for the year (T A Box).  At Gillingham, the first Dusky Sallow, and a Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

16 July 2006

At Portland, in much stiller and extremely warm conditions overnight the Obs garden moth-traps were very busy; Diamond-back and Silver Y aside (many hundreds of each of these species were attracted to the traps and it's looking like both are becoming so numerous that it won't be possible to obtain full counts each day) the only immigrants were 12 Rush Veneer, three European Corn Borer and a Dark Sword-grass; however the list of wanderers showed a marked improvement on recent nights: three Bird-cherry Ermine, two Zeiraphera isertana, two Buff Footman, singles each of Limnaecia phragmitella, Lozotaenioides formosanus, Hedya sacicella, and Gymnancyla canella, two Scarlet Tiger, singles of Grass Emerald, Pine Hawk-moth, Fen Wainscot, Marbled White-spot and an Oak Nycteoline, by day there was a Six-belted Clearwing at Broadcroft Quarry (M Cade).   At Broadwey, the pyrale Microthrix similella recorded, and also of some note for the garden were: Fen Wainscot, Silky Wainscot, Toadflax Pug, Bordered Beauty, Oak Nycteoline and Blue-bordered Carpet.  At Chickerell,  the pick of last night's catch were two Jersey Tiger, a Kent Black Arches, two Silver Y and (first for year) a Gothic, and two Marbled Green (C Pinder).  At least 75 species in the trap at Lyons Gate, with the best being two Cloaked Carpet; immigrants included two Silver Y and two Rush Veneer (T A Box).  Last night saw 950+ moths of 118 species [micros and macros] at Kingston with new site records of Scarce Silver-lines, two Mere Wainscot [being sent to PD for conf.]; amongst the others, five Lunar-spotted Pinion, which seem to be having a very good year, a Copper Underwing, Marbled Beauty and Pyrlis faranalis were the most note worthy (P Benham).  At Gillingham, a Vine's Rustic and two Small Mottled Willow (G Hopkins).

15 July 2006

At Portland Obs there was only a very limited range of immigrants/wanderers attracted to the Obs garden moth-traps overnight: 88 Silver Y, 48 Diamond-back, three Dark Sword-grass, two Rush Veneer, a Catoptria pinella and a Grass Emerald (M Cade).  A Marsh Oblique-barred was a rather surprising addition to the garden list at Preston, and a Striped Wainscot was only the 2nd garden record (M Forster).  At last, a Pine Hawk-moth at Lyons Gate, long overdue as the site is surrounded by woodland, much of which is coniferous plantation, making 460 for the garden list (T A Box). 

14 July 2006

At Portland Obs, the overnight moth catch was again spoilt by a stiff easterly wind, to the extent that 86 Silver Y and 12 Diamond-back were the only immigrants trapped in the Obs garden moth-traps; a single Langmaid's Yellow Underwing was also a noteworthy capture (2005 was a blank year for this species after a series of records in 2003 and 2004 hinted at it having become established at the Bill). (M Cade).  A Beautiful Snout was new for the garden in Preston (M Forster).  At Merley, Wimborne, two Scarce Silver-lines, one Green Silver-lines and a Gothic (D & M Godfrey).  A Phoenix at Lyons Gate, was a first for the garden, while of the other 54 species another Scallop Shell was probably most noteworthy (T A Box).  At Kingston, a fairly typical night there for the time of year with 600+ of 100 species; one new species, Oegonconia quadripuncta; the pick of the rest were singles of Small Scallop, Shaded Broad-bar ([both new for the year}, Sharp-angled Carpet, Scarce Footman and the pyrales, Catoptria pinella and Pempilia formosa - also worth a mention were singles of Pebble and Swallow Prominent and Nut-tree Tussock, presumably the 2nd generation (P Benham). 

13 July 2006

At Portland, moth-traps in sheltered situations in the Obs garden were literally overflowing with moths but the stiff easterly wind that had sprung up during the night significantly reduced the catch in the rest of the traps in more exposed sites. Highlights were the first island record of Monochroa cytisella (a bracken-feeding species) and the second record of Ethmia dodecea, whilst other immigrants/wanderers included 467 Silver Y, 21 Diamond-back, three Rush Veneer, singles each of Epiblema foenella, Water Veneer, Ancylosis oblitella, Southern Wainscot and a Marbled White-spot.  Elsewhere a single Catoptria pinella was a good record in a garden moth-trap at Fortuneswell (M Cade).  At Chickerell, good numbers, including a Narrow-winged Pug, two Kent Black Arches, a Dark Sword-grass, a White-point and six Silver Y (C Pinder).  A cooler night with fewer moths, but a Muslin Footman at Lyons Gate was the recorders 500th species for ST60 in three years; also of note was a Sharp-angled Carpet (T A Box).

12 July 2006

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps were much busier than in recent nights, with the catch including a fair selection of infrequently recorded wanderers: 126 Silver Y, 22 Diamond-back, six Rush Veneer, two Cream-bordered Green Pea, singles each of Brown China-mark, Water Veneer, Pempelia formosa, Royal Mantle, Sandy Carpet, Clouded Border, Dark Sword-grass, Miller and a Delicate (M Cade).  At Chickerell, the first Jersey Tiger of the year there last night, plus three Kent Black Arches (C Pinder).  At Broadwey, a Small Mottled Willow, two Cypress Carpet, a Buff Footman and a Leopard Moth (P Harris).  A Muslin Footman and a Cream-bordered Green Pea at Merley, Wimborne (D & M Godfrey).  At Lyons Gate, about 60 species, the best being another Scallop Shell and the first Minor Shoulder-knot of the year (T A Box). 

11 July 2006

Interest picked up a little in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, with 24 Silver Y, eight Diamond-back, three Rush Veneer and two Small Mottled Willow (M Cade).  At Gillingham, a Muslin Footman (G Hopkins).

10 July 2006

Still not many moths on the wing overnight at the Portland Obs, with the traps there producing by way of immigrants just four Silver Y, and single Diamond-back and Rush Veneer (M Cade).  There was a Beautiful Carpet at Weymouth, which is probably the first Weymouth record (P Sterling per P Harris).  At Chickerell, a Kent Black Arches, the fourth there this year (C Pinder).  At Kingston, a quieter night after last week's excesses: 429 moths, 69 macros, 29 micros - in the second year of recording at this site, six species were new: singles of Small Emerald, Double Lobed, Catopria falsella, Wax Moth and an Engrailed, and two Muslin Footman; the best of the rest were four Lunar-spotted Pinion (P Benham).  At Gillingham, a Rusty-dot Pearl (G Hopkins).

9 July 2006

Another wet and windy night, but a few moths made the effort worthwhile: a Red-necked Footman, Grange Wood Middlemarsh; an Orthotelia sparganella at Gravel-pit Wood, Longburton was a new species for observers, as were two Bird-cherry Ermine and an Aethes rubigana in the garden at Lyons Gate (T A Box and A R Pay).

8 July 2006

Wet and windy weather not very conducive to catching moths, as indicated by the catch at Portland, with the only immigrants attracted to the Obs garden moth-traps being two Silver Y and a Diamond-back (M Cade).  At Row Hill Coppice, the best was a rather worn Map-winged Swift, and at Batcombe Barn reedbeds, a Silver Y (T A Box and A R Pay). 

7 July 2006

The fourth new species of the island in recent days - a Beautiful Hook-tip - was the best of the overnight catch in the Obs garden moth-traps; other immigrants/wanderers included 16 Diamond-back, 19 Silver Y, four Rush Veneer, and singles each of Ancylosis oblitella, Grass Emerald, Delicate and a Small Mottled Willow (M Cade). 

6 July 2006

A bit quieter again after the numbers of the last few weeks: at Portland totals of 99 Diamond-back, 58 Silver Y, 13 Rush Veneer, and single Bird-cherry Ermine, Ancylosis oblitella, Dark Sword-grass, Green Silver-lines and a Cream-bordered Green Pea (M Cade).  At Preston, a Bordered Straw, four Cream-bordered Green Pea, a Calamotropha paludella and what was taken to be Pempelia genistella being the only things of any consequence (M Forster).  At Broadwey, three Scarlet Tiger, two Red-necked Footman, and single Reddish Light Arches, Scallop Shell, Green Silver-lines, Blackneck and Blue-bordered Carpet (P Harris).  A Kent Black Arches at Merley (D & M Godfrey).  14 Silver Y and three Diamond-back at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

5 July 2006

Apart from a single Conobathra tumidana and a slight increase in Silver Y numbers to 58 the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were relatively quiet with other immigrant/wanderer totals of just 53 Diamond-back, five Rush Veneer, three Bird-cherry Ermine, two Ancylosis oblitella, two Dark Sword-grass, and single Rusty-dot Pearl, Tawny-barred Angle, and Pearly Underwing, two Dark Sword-grass and two Delicate.  Numbers well down, but highlights at Preston were a Muslin Footman and an aberrant Heart and Dart - picture see below (M Forster).  A long-awaited garden record was a Lappet in Broadwey, in addition to Wood Carpet, Oak Nycteoline, Large Tabby, Pempelia formosa, Ebulia crocealis, and Phycita roborella (P Harris).

4 July 2006

Portland weighed in with quality rather than the quantity of recent night with a Beautiful Snout - the third new species for the island in as many nights, and an Orache Moth (the third island record),  whilst other totals included 75 Diamond-back, 17 Silver Y, four Bird-cherry Ermine, four Rush Veneer, two each of Ancylosis oblitella, Rusty-dot Pearl, Small Mottled Willow, and singles of Zeiraphera isertana, Evergestis extimalis, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Pearly Underwing and Dark Sword-grass (M Cade).  A colony of Epermenia insecurella was located at Durlston among its foodplant Bastard Toadflax - it is a UK notable species and a rarity in Dorset, so good news for Durlston (P Davey).  At Broadwey: 97 sp macro in the traps but nothing of any great note although easily the best night ever for numbers - migrants included Gem and Bordered Straw, while Large Tabby, Blackneck, Wood Carpet, two Scarce Silver-lines, Pine Hawk-moth, Bordered Sallow and Gothic were of some note for the garden (P Harris).  At Preston still 70 species of macro, highlights were Sloe Pug, Blue-bordered Carpet, Kent Black Arches and Small Emerald (M Forster).  The best of the bunch at Dorchester were Bordered Straw, Beautiful Hook-tip, Dun-bar, True Lover's Knot, Blackneck, Magpie and Short Cloaked Moth (J Down).  A quieter night at Lyons Gate with two new for the garden: an Epiblema foenella and an Udea prunalis, while other notables included three Red-necked Footman (T A Box).  However, at Kingston a back-breaking morning!: 1017 moths, 99 macros, 45micros - very little sign of migration with only three Diamond-back, four Rush Veneer, and two very worn Small Mottled Willow, however new for the site were Fern, Lappet, Barred Rivulet, Brown Scallop, Ruddy Carpet, and two Clay Triple-lines; other records of note were eight Peach Blossom, two Scarce Footman, a Miller, a Sharp-angled Carpet and three Pempilia formosa (P Benham).  A Blue-bordered Carpet, a Double Lobed, and two Diamond-back at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

3 July 2006

By day, a Synaphe punctalis found in offices, Hurn (T A Box).

Several observers remark that it was a very busy night with large numbers and diversity of species.  Immigrants/wanderers attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight: a first for the island, a Pine Shoot Moth, while other totals included 378 Diamond-back, 24 Silver Y, ten Ancylosis oblitella, six Rusty-dot Pearl, five Small Mottled Willow, three European Corn Borer, six Zeiraphera isertana, six Rush Veneer, one each of Green Oak Tortrix, Platytes alpinella, Evergestis extimalis, Perinephela lancealis, Pempelia genistella, Figure of Eighty, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Green Arches, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Bordered Straw and a Dark Spectacle; a remarkable total of 31 Four-spotted were also caught (M Cade).  Three Scarlet Tiger at Radipole, Weymouth (per Dorset B C website).  At Preston, 81 species of macro, including White Satin Moth, Marbled White-spot, Purple Clay and Foxglove Pug all new for the garden; also singles of Pine Hawk-moth and Toadflax Pug, the first Southern Wainscot of the year, four Scarlet Tigers and three True Lover's Knot (M Forster).  A daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Charmouth (per Dorset B C website).  Among 40 species at Ferndown Common, a male Four-spotted Footman, five Four-dotted Footman, three Festoon, a Clouded Buff and a Beautiful Hook-tip (D Cousins) At Lyons Gate, well over 400 moths of 90+ species, with at least six new for the garden, highlights: singles each of Diamond-back, Syncopacma larseniella, Endothenia gentianaeana, Dioryctria abietella, Pretty Chalk Carpet, 16 Red-necked Footman, two Scarlet Tiger, and a Clay (T A Box).  A Haworth's Pug and four Diamond-back at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

2 July 2006

By day at Tout Quarry, Portland, Scarlet Tiger, Six-spotted Burnet and Silver Y (per Dorset B C website).  A good and unexpected first for the island was an apparent Cosmopterix scribaiella at Southwell; immigrants/wanderers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 502 Diamond-back, the influx of Ancylosis oblitella continues with 22 recorded, 28 Silver Y, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, six Small Mottled Willow, four European Corn Borer, three Pine Hawk-moth, two each of Rush Veneer, Delicate and Phycita roborella, singles of Rhyacionia pinicolana, Pempelia genistella, Dioryctria abietella, Gem, Grey Pine Carpet, Tawny-barred Angle, Cream-bordered Green Pea and a Green Silver-lines; ten Four-spotted, a local speciality was noteworthy (M Cade).  At Preston, Weymouth, there was the best nights tally in 10 years of trapping there, with most notable being Scarce Silver-lines and Scarlet Tiger, both new to the garden; other records included Ghost, nine Cream-bordered Green Pea, singles of Small Emerald and Kent Black Arches and two Cypress Carpet and a Ni Moth (M Forster).  Nearby at Broadwey, yet more Ancylosis oblitella with eight recorded, and an European Corn Borer, with Large Emerald notable for the garden (P Harris).  Durlston proved busy, despite the NE breeze, with an estimate of a migration of up to 1500 Large Yellow Underwing; highlights included a Goat Moth (very rare to light, new to Durlston?), singles each of Blair's Mocha, Ni Moth, White-lined Snout (BAP species), Dingy Shell, two Grass Emerald, four Scarlet Tiger, a Blackneck, two True Lover's Knot, 15 Ancylosis oblitella, a Bordered White, two Bordered Straw and three Blue-bordered Carpet (S Nash).  Lyons Gate highlights: two Scallop Shell, a male Lilac Beauty, four Red-necked Footman (T A Box). A Bordered Straw, the fifth of the year at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

1 July 2006

Portland Obs: immigrants/wanderers overnight included 151 Diamond-back, 16 Silver Y, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Bordered Straw, two each of Ancylosis oblitella, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow, and one each of Pediasia contaminella, Rush Veneer, Palpita vitrealis and Nephopterix angustella (M Cade).  There appears to be a first for the County at Wyke Regis, a Sciota adelphella (D Foot).  West Bexington produced a massive count of 95 Red-necked Footman (P Sterling).  At Durlston during the day, plenty of Six-spot Burnet moths, and the Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring at Red Valarian; by night a good selection of resident species, and migrants included another Many Lined, several Silver Y, White-point, White Speck and Bordered Straw (per Durlston C P website).  To an MV over a sheet at Verwood: highlights were two Red-necked Footman, Scarce Footman and a Scarce Silver-lines (M Weaver).  At Dorchester, notable records were three White-point, a female Gem, Toadflax Pug, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Scorched Wing, and four Small Yellow Waves;  also the first Marbled Beauty there for the year, and first Marbled White-spot for the garden (J Down).  At Batcombe reedbeds, a Scallop Shell, Light Arches and Diamond-back, and at the top end of Hendover copse a Red-necked Footman the pick of 43 species there (T A Box).  Kingston weighed in with three Red-necked Footman, Ethmia dodecea, and the plume Marasmarcha lunaedactyla.  Of note among the 72 macro sp and 36 micros were a Common Lutestring, a Narrow-winged Pug, a Small Yellow Wave, a Shark, three Poplar Grey, four Sycamore, a Lunar-spotted Pinion, two worn Small Mottled Willow, a Calamoptropha paludella, two Orthopygia glaucinalis and a Homoeosoma sinuella (P Benham).  At Cashmoor, a good selection of local species, with Hysteriosa sodaliana, Metzneria aprilella, a Small Eggar larval web, and a Ruddy Carpet being most notable (per Dorset B C website).  Babylon Hill near Yeovil, just scrapes into Dorset and is the home of the Somerset Moth Group website editor: highlights overnight were the pyralid Phlyctaenia stachydalis, six Cypress Carpet, and a Dingy Shell, which is scarce in adjacent Somerset (M Yeates).  Single Marasmarcha launadactyla, Bordered Sallow, Red-necked Footman and Obscure Wainscot at Gillingham (G Hopkins).  At Shapwick, a scarce immigrant Ancylosis oblitella (a pyralid), with a selection of other moths featured below (P Davey).

30 June 2006

At Portland, most of the new arrivals being shorter-distance wanderers; a single July Belle (the fourth island record) was the pick of the overnight catch, whilst other totals included 56 Diamond-back, 13 Silver Y, seven Rusty-dot Pearl, three Zeiraphera isertana, two each of Rush Veneer, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Delicate, with single Pediasia contaminella, European Corn Borer, Nephopterix angustella, Ancylosis oblitella, Figure of Eighty, Dark Sword Grass and Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Day flying moths at Durlston - a Yellow Shell, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the cafe garden, and among the meadows many black and red Six-spot Burnet moths; while overnight 40 or so species including migrant Bordered Straw, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y and White-point logged (Durlston C P website).  A Large Tabby found in offices, Hurn Airport, while overnight highlights at Holm Bushes, a Diamond-back, a Treble Brown Spot and a Four-dotted Footman, and at Gravel Pit Wood an Eyed Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth and a Light Arches amongst others (T A Box).  At Babylon Hill, highlights included another Cypress Carpet, a Royal Mantle and a Wood Carpet: the plume Platyptilia pallidactyla is waiting for confirmation (M Yeates).  A Gothic at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

29 June 2006

At Portland, the pick of the night's moth catch was a Marbled Coronet (only the second confirmed record for the island) in a garden trap at Southwell; immigrants in the Obs garden traps included 140 Diamond-back, 33 Silver Y, three Rush Veneer, three Dark Sword-grass, singles each of Rusty-dot Pearl, Ancylosis oblitella, Pearly Underwing and Delicate (M Cade).  Nearby at Chickerell, among low numbers but a good variety of common species, a single Kent Black Arches and Cypress Carpet (C Pinder).  By day at Verwood, a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth laying yet more eggs on a honeysuckle bush, and later in the evening, a Pine Hawk-moth nectaring on the flowers of a regular climbing type honeysuckle; overnight, the sixth site record for the year of Scarce Merveille du Jour, a Festoon, three Red-necked Footman, and a Scarlet Tiger (M Weaver).  At Lyons Gate, most number of species yet this year, still being sorted but brief highlights: a Diamond-back, five Red-necked Footman, one Four-dotted Footman and a Scallop Shell (T A Box). By day at Melbury Down 106 Five-spotted Burnet and four Forester (per Dorset B C website).

28 June 2006

Another fairly quiet night at Portland with 84 Diamond-back, 28 Silver Y, two Rusty-dot Pearl, and one each of Pearly Underwing, Rush Veneer, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Dark Sword-grass and Bordered Straw, being the only immigrants recorded.  Another Portland speciality on the wing is Cynaeda dentalis, the Viper's Bugloss-feeding pyralid (see photo below); this one in a garden moth-trap at Southwell, Portland (J Lucas).  A Muslin Footman, first for site, Chickerell (C Pinder).  A daytime record at Durlston was a magnificent hairy Lackey caterpillar, and overnight a Four-spotted Footman rarely seen there (per Durlston C P website).  Also by day at Didlington, near Wimborne, over 50 Scarlet Tiger Moth (per Dorset B C website).

27 June 2006

At Portland, a quieter night, with a still respectable 97 Diamond-back, 21 Silver Y, four Pearly Underwing, three Rusty-dot Pearl, three Rush Veneer, two Dark Sword-grass, a Small Mottled Willow and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (M Cade). Highlights at Broadwey were Calamotropha paludella, Red-necked Footman and a Lilac Beauty (P Harris).  At Merley, 167 moths of 52 species, including a Ni Moth, and the first Barred Red for the site (D & N Godfrey).  Four Diamond-back and a Pale-shouldered Brocade at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

26 June 2006

Immigrants in the Portland Obs garden moth traps overnight included 118  Diamond-back, 74 Silver Y, three each of Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, Dark Sword-grass, Pearly Underwing, Straw Dot, and singles of Nephopterix angustella, Green Oak Tortrix,  European Corn Borer, Narrow-winged Pug, Small Mottled Willow and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (M Cade).  At Durlston by day, a

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a Fern and Six-spot Burnet Moths (per Durlston C P website).  By day, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Winfrith Newburgh (per Dorset B C website).  A Vine's Rustic and 11 Diamond-back at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

25 June 2006

Muggy, showery conditions overnight saw good numbers of moths on the wing and there was a decent catch of new immigrants in the Obs garden traps: 570 Diamond-back, 138 Silver Y, 17 Rusty-dot Pearl, six Dark Sword-grass, four Small Mottled Willow, two each of Pearly Underwing, Straw Dot, Nephopterix angustella, Ancylosis oblitella, and singles of Green Oak Tortrix, Rush Veneer, European Corn Borer, Dioryctria abietella, Grey Pine Carpet, Bordered Straw and Dark Spectacle.  At Chickerell, three Silver Y and a new for the site, Sharp-angled Peacock (C Pinder).  At Puddletown: 52 Small Mottled Willow and two Ni Moth and 400+ Silver Y (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  Good numbers of migrants at Gillingham with 22 Diamond-back, 11Silver Y, one Green Oak Tortrix, 17 Straw Dot, and a Rush Veneer (G Hopkins).

24 June 2006

A much quieter night noted at Portland with 16 Diamond-back, five Silver Y, a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Bordered Straw the only immigrants recorded (M Cade).  At Broadwey, a rather tatty Scarce Bordered Straw was the only moth of note (P Harris).   Similarly quieter at Chickerell, but included a Cypress Carpet and a, first for garden, Lilac Beauty (C Pinder).  At Lyons Gate a Eudonia delunella and a Rush Veneer the highlights (T A Box).  C Manley had a Mocha at Talbot Wood, and an Acrolepiopsis marcidella, which is an RDB species, shown on its foodplant, Butchers Broom, at Wilkswood.

23 June 2006

In calm and overcast conditions overnight the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were fairly busy although there was little evidence of renewed immigration (almost without exception the immigrants still on the wing are very worn and seem likely to be lingering on from last week); another Many-lined (the fifth record for the island) was the pick of the catch, whilst other immigrants/wanderers included 49 Diamond-back, 16 Silver Y, four Rusty-dot Pearl, three Rush Veneer, two Bordered Straw, and singles each of Delicate, Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw, Cream-bordered Green Pea and  Ni Moth (M Cade).  A Striped Hawk-moth, Weymouth (P Sterling).  Migrants were much reduced but a good selection of local resident at Broadwey: three Cream-bordered Green Pea, three Orange Footman, two Green Silver-lines, two Common Lutestring, a male Ghost Moth, Beautiful Hook-tip, Scorched Wing, two Bordered Sallow and a Pinion-streaked Snout (P Harris).  Nearby at Chickerell, a decent catch of common moths also included two Cypress Carpet; also two species listed as 'local' for Dorset, but which seem to be fairly regular there were two Brussels Lace and Yellow-barred Brindle (C Pinder).  Good numbers of Six-spot Burnet by day at Durlston while overnight among resident species were only three ‘migrant’ species; Bordered Straw, White-point and Silver Y (per Durlston C P website).  At Lawn's Farm near Longburton, 51 species including a Miller, and two Vapourer caterpillars (T A Box).  A busy night at Kingston with 521 moths of 98 species ( inc.22micros).  Scarce migrants were evident: two Bordered Straw, a Scarce Bordered Straw, a Delicate and a Small Mottled Willow nearly out numbering the more expected four Silver Y, Diamond-back and Rusty-dot Pearl.  Residents were mostly common with two Ghost, the first Drinker of the year, a Peach Blossom, Lilac Beauty, Crambus perlella, and three Eudonia delunella being the most noteworthy (P Benham).  At Closworth, two Bordered Straw and a White-point (J Astley).  88 moths of 28 species at Babylon Hill, the highlight being a Cypress Carpet, scarce away from the south coast, but perhaps spreading.

Some pictures of moths from the east of the County, including Speckled Footman are by P Davey.

22 June 2006

A better night of late at Portland Obs, with 14 Diamond-back, two each of  Rush Veneer, Bordered Straw, Silver Y and a Pearly Underwing (M Cade).  An L-album Wainscot, at Fortuneswell, Portland, may even be breeding in garden  (E Cockburn).

20 June 2006

At Broadwey: single Ni Moth, Scarce Bordered Straw, Pearly Underwing, Sloe Pug, and two each of  Bordered Straw, Delicate, Dark Spectacle (P Harris).  There was a second-hand report of a Convolvulus Hawk-moth on honeysuckle in a green house at Ryewater (per J Astley).

19 June 2006

At Portland Obs were 52 Diamond-back, three Silver Y, three Rush Veneer and a Rusty-dot Pearl.  At Broadwey: Small Mottled Willow, two Bordered Straw, Dark Sword-grass, European Corn Borer, Cypress Carpet, and two Sloe Pug (P Harris). At Walditch two Bordered Straw and a Ni Moth (M Parsons).  Mark reports that it appears to be a good year for Small Eggar nests - he can now count at least 7 nests along the main road between Winterbourne Abbas and Dorchester. It might be worth looking for nests elsewhere.  At Trigon, Wareham Forest a new for the site Blotched Emerald (C Manley). 

18 June 2006

Quieter than of late, at Portland Obs, with immigrant totals of 89 Diamond-back, eight Silver Y, three Bordered Straw, two Rush Veneer, two Pearly Underwing, and one each of Rusty-dot Pearl and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  Some Portland speciality moths, photos taken over the last few days:

At Chickerell, two Bordered Straw and singles each of White-point and Dark Sword-grass (C Pinder).  A Striped Hawk-moth appeared at Preston (P Knight per P Harris).  At Broadway, a Evergestis limbata and Scarce Bordered Straw, and two Bordered Straw (P Harris).  At Dorchester, another two Bordered Straw, with first records for site for Cream-spot Tiger, and Small Clouded Brindle (J Down).  Puddletown weighed in with another Striped Hawk-moth (H Wood Homer per P Harris).

17 June 2006

By day at Broadcroft Quarry, Portland, Yellow Shell and Six-spot Burnet (per Dorset B C website).  At Verwood, a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth at rhododendron (M Weaver).  At Cerne there was a single Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and four Hummingbird Hawk-moth around midday, and by night, two Bordered Straw, a Delicate and a White-point at Dorchester (J Down).  Also by day at Ryewater were Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion and Yellow Shell (J Astley). 

At Portland, the Immigrants/wanderers in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 51 Diamond-back, 41 Silver Y, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, eight Bordered Straw, seven Rush Veneer, three Small Mottled Willow, two each of  Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword Grass, Delicate, and Ni Moth, with single Green Oak Tortrix, Palpita vitrealis, Striped Hawk-moth and Hummingbird Hawk-moth.  At Broadwey, a Small Mottled Willow (P Harris).  Overnight trapping at Hardy's Monument, Blackdown produced a couple of avian highlights: calling Quail and singing Nightjar; otherwise lots of moths, few migrants with only two Diamond-back and a Silver Y, and the only Belles located appeared to be July Belle (see below); also Four-spotted Footman (T A Box).  Another Bordered Straw, Varied Coronet and two Rush Veneer, Gillingham (G Hopkins).

16 June 2006

Immigrants/wanderers in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight included 115 Diamond-back, 21 Rusty-dot Pearl, 12 Rush Veneer, 10 Silver Y, five Bordered Straw, four Small Mottled Willow, two each of Green Oak Tortrix, Pearly Underwing and Delicate, and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Palpita vitrealis, Evergestis extimalis, Figure of Eighty, Scorched Wing (the second of the year but only the third or fourth record for Portland), Straw Dot and Scarce Bordered Straw.  There were four Bordered Straw, and singles each of Scarce Bordered Straw, Dark Spectacle, Ghost, Campion and Common Lutestring all at Broadwey (P Harris).  There was a Ni Moth at Preston (R Lambert).  At Durlston, good numbers of Hummingbird Hawk-moth, feeding during the day on Valerian round the castle (per Durlston C P website); overnight there were singles Dioryctria abietella and Little Emerald, two Valerian Pug, one Red-necked Footman, two Crescent Dart, two L-album Wainscot, one Shoulder-striped Wainscot, six White-point, two Small Mottled Willow, 23 Bordered Straw, one Cream-bordered Green Pea, a Small Marbled, two Ni Moth and a Dark Spectacle, see photos below (S Nash).  At Middlebere, there were a number of good records, some of which are photographed below (P Davey and C Manley):

At Verwood, there was a second Scarce Merveille du Jour (M Weaver).  The moth of the night was a Syncopacma polychromella at Puddletown - the third British record, and the first likely specimen to be accepted as reaching Britain unaided from southern Europe (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  At Dorchester, the pick of the haul were Orange Footman, Currant Pug, Buff Arches and Rusty-dot Pearl, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth attracted to Valerian (J Down).  At White's Wood / Row Hill Coppice, 116 of 37 species: three Map-winged Swift (500m from another known site), and a Striped Hawk-moth; at Minterne Seat Coppice a Square-spot (T A Box).  A Blair's Mocha at Toller Porcorum (A Trout).  Three Rush Veneer at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

15 June 2006

At Portland Obs, fewer immigrants than of late:  21 Diamond-back, 17 Rusty-dot Pearl, 14 Silver Y, eight Rush Veneer, four Pearly Underwing, four Bordered Straw, two Straw Dot, two Small Mottled Willow, and one each of Green Oak Tortrix, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Dark Sword-grass and Delicate (M Cade).  An Eyed Hawk-moth, Chickerell (C Pinder).  Daytime flying moths at Durlston included Silver Y, Burnet Companion, Grass Rivulet, Mother Shipton and Six-spot Burnet.  Caterpillars very much in evidence: Six-spot Burnet on the Bird's Foot Trefoil, Mullein Moth on Mullein, and nursery webs of both Lackey and the highly irritant Brown-tail on the Blackthorn (per Durlston C P website).  A day-flying Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Winfrith Newburgh (per Dorset B C website).  At Hendover Copse, a Hysterophora maculosana and a Small White Wave were netted (J Astley).  A Red-necked Footman was the pick of the haul, Lyons Gate (T A Box).  At Gillingham, three Silver Y, Vine's Rustic and one Rush Veneer, and at Bishops Caundle School, a Bordered Straw (G Hopkins).

14 June 2006

The Portland Obs garden moth-traps produced another good haul of immigrants including 294 Diamond-back, 18 Rush Veneer, 18 Silver Y, 17 Rusty-dot Pearl, 10 Small Mottled Willow, eight Green Oak Tortrix, six Bordered Straw, four Dark Sword Grass, three Pearly Underwing, two Delicate, one Striped Hawk-moth, two Straw Dot, a Palpita vitrealis, a Gem and a Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  At Chickerell, two firsts for the site were Green Oak Tortrix and Small Seraphim, plus three Silver Y and a Dark Sword-grass (C Pinder).  A Small Marbled at Preston (R Lambert).  A Many-lined and two Bordered Straw, Broadwey (P Harris).  At Lyons Gate there was an Eyed Hawk-moth, and migrants included singles each of Diamond-back and Rush Veneer (T A Box).  At Gillingham, a Dark Sword-grass, Light Brocade, nine Silver Y and a Vine's Rustic (G Hopkins).

13 June 2006

At Portland Obs the garden moth-traps were a good deal quieter than yesterday although there were still respectable numbers of immigrants that included 327 Diamond-back, 37 Silver Y, 18 Green Oak Tortrix, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, seven Small Mottled Willow, six Rush Veneer, six Bordered Straw, four Pearly Underwing, and singles each of Striped Hawk-moth, Pine Hawk-moth, Straw Dot and Scarce Bordered Straw (M Cade).  In the flower-beds at the back of the Lookout Café at Durlston the skeletal remains of Greater Mullein is draped with dozens of the spectacular caterpillars of the Mullein Moth, voraciously munching their way through the last few leaves (Durlston C P website).  At Chickerell were singles each of Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, Cream -spot Tiger and Yellow-barred Brindle.  Singles each of Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow and Dark Spectacle, Broadwey (P Harris).   At Gillingham, Green Silver Lines, 12 Silver Y, Small Dusty Wave, three Rush Veneer and three Diamond-back (G Hopkins).

12 June 2006

Immigration continues with prodigious numbers of immigrant moths arriving overnight. The Portland Obs garden traps attracted highlights in the form of the first island record of Nemophora degeerella, the third record of Striped Wainscot, the fourth record of Many-lined and a single Small Marbled, and fifth record of a Blair's Mocha, although perhaps just as extraordinary were the unprecedented numbers of Green Oak Tortrix: the Obs traps attracted 475, whilst another 30 were in a garden trap at Fortuneswell.  More routine fare included 1078 Diamond-back, 33 Rusty-dot Pearl, 16 Small Mottled Willow, 13 Rush Veneer, nine Straw Dot, seven Silver Y, three Pearly Underwing, singles each of Palpita vitrealis, Evergestis extimalis, Gem, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Bordered Straw and a Cream-bordered Green Pea at the Obs (M Cade) and a Bordered Straw, and a Ni Moth at Fortuneswell (per M Cade).   Also at Fortuneswell a suspected varient of Clouded Bordered Brindle, see below (E Cockburn).  In addition at dusk, were two Bordered Straws visiting valerian flowers in a garden at Southwell and a Striped Hawk-moth was again in a garden at Reforne.   A Small Mottled Willow at Broadwey (P Harris).  At Walditch, two each of Bordered Straw and Small Mottled Willow (M Parsons).  Near Stourpaine, there were singles of Ni Moth, Small Mottled Willow and Vestal (P Davey and K Thomas).  At Lyons Gate, several new for the year including a Figure of Eighty (T A Box).  A Small Marbled at Gillingham, identified with the help of Martin Cade's photo of the one at Portland, and a single Bordered Straw and Rush Veneer (G Hopkins).

11 June 2006

Immigrant/dispersing moths in the Portland Obs garden traps included 191 Diamond-back, 15 Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Silver Y, four Pearly Underwing, three Small Mottled Willow, two Dark Sword Grass, singles each of Green Oak Tortrix, Rush Veneer, Gem, Striped Hawk-moth, White Spot and a Scarce Bordered Straw; among the local specialities the first Four-spotted of the summer was also trapped.  Elsewhere on the island a single Scarce Bordered Straw was at Fortuneswell, and a Striped Hawk-moth was on the wing in a garden at Reforne in the evening.  A Bordered Straw at Broadwey (P Harris).  A daytime record of a large specimen of a Dioryctria abietella at Maiden Castle, was undoubtedly an immigrant (J Down).  A Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth in a garden at Verwood, where it has been known to breed in the past; three eggs laid on honeysuckle on 29th May, hatched today - a couple of pictures from last years brood below (M Weaver).  At Gillingham, Peach Blossom, Small Seraphim, a Diamond-back, first Rush Veneer for two years, and Eudonia delunella (G Hopkins).

10 June 2006

Most observers reported it being the best night of the year so far, with some obvious migrant activity too.  At Portland Obs were 172 Diamond-back, 18 Silver Y, 15 Rusty-dot Pearl, nine Small Mottled Willow, seven Rush Veneer, six Bordered Straw and five Pearly Underwing, whilst wanderers included three Green Oak Tortrix (M Cade).  There were over 150 species at Durlston last night, including: a White Spot – a new site record?, a Silky Wainscot and a Palpita vitrealis, two Striped Hawk-moth, three Hummingbird Hawk-moth, seven White-point, four Small Mottled Willow, a Scarce Bordered Straw, three Bordered Straw, and two Dark Spectacle (S Nash).  At the same site, independently, there were about 50 micro species and 100 macro species including: a Barred Red specimen (possibly the first Dorset record of the green form, and undoubtedly an immigrant); other migrants included a single Striped Hawk-moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, seven Bordered Straw, four Small Mottled Willow, and 37 White-point (P Davey).

At Chickerell: 25 spp included a Silver Y, and singles each of Privet Hawk-moth and Brussels Lace, both first of the year at the site (all singles) (C Pinder).  At Upwey: 70 spp macro including a Palpita vitrealis, and Striped Hawk-moth, two each of Bordered Straw and Dark Spectacle (P Harris).  At Verwood, there was a daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth (P Weaver).  Walditch weighed in with two Bordered Straw, a male Four-spotted Footman and a Many-lined (M Parsons).  A daytime record of a large specimen of a Dioryctria abietella at Maiden Castle, was undoubtedly an immigrant, and a Pretty Chalk Carpet at Batcombe by day ; in Dorchester, three Small Mottled Willow, a Rush Veneer, three Diamond-back and a Totrix viridana amongst others (J Down).  At Batcombe Barn reedbeds, 36 species, including a Fox Moth, a Timothy Tortrix, a Small Seraphim and two Shears.  At Row Hill Coppice, 42 species including 22 (yes 22!) Map-winged Swift, three Triaxomera fulvimitrella, a Red-necked Footman, two Orange Footman, singles each of Green Arches, Vine’s Rustic and Green Silver-lines (T A Box).  100 moths of 42 species at Babylon Hill, including four Diamond-backs, Eyed Hawk-moth, a Sycamore and a Pale Mottled WIllow (M Yeates).  Record count of 52 species at Gillingham site, including an Alder Moth and two Diamond-back (G Hopkins).

9 June 2006

Daytime flying moths at Durlston: Grass Rivulet, Speckled Orange, Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion (per Durslton CP).  A daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Chickerell, while overnight was a Silver Y and new records of Puss Moth and four Middle-barred Minor (C Pinder).  A Striped Hawk-moth, Marshwood, nr. Bridport (J Baker).  A good daytime record were a pair of Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth in cop., Cerne Abbas (J Down).  172 of 32 species at Minterne Seat Coppice, including several Lobster Moth, Orange Footman and Green Arches, and three new ones for recorder - Adela croesella, Monopis obviella and three Middle-barred Minor (T A Box).  Three from a Shapwick trap were Platyptila gonodactyla,  Buttoned Snout and Plain Golden Y, see below (P Davey). A Dingy Shell and two Vine's Rustic, Gillingham (G Hopkins).

8 June 2006

Portland managed only one non local species, a Figure of Eighty (M Cade).  At Chickerell, 14 species including a Silver Y, and two new ones for the garden, Purple Bar and Spruce Carpet (C Pinder).  At Verwood, two Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Scorched Wing, Alder Moth and a Fox Moth which has since laid eggs (M Weaver).  A couple of daytime records: an Ancylis myrtillana, Black Down, Martinstown, another bilberry feeder and the first Dorset record for more than sixty years (P Sterling), and another record of Rhopobota myrtillana, this time at Black Hill, Bere Regis (P Davey).  72 of 33 species at Lyons Gate, with Eulia ministrana, common in woodland and attractive, a new species for recorder, and a Rustic Shoulder-knot first for site (T A Box).  At Gillingham, 39 species including Least Black Arches (only one previous record here, in 1996), another early Ingrailed Clay, a Grey Dagger and Pale-shouldered Brocade (G Hopkins).

7 June 2006

Portland Obs reported two Spruce Carpets and a May Highflyer overnight; longer-distance immigrants consisted of just two Silver Y and a Diamond-back (M Cade).  At Durlston by day, good number of day flying moths as well including: Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion, Grass Rivulet and Yellow Belle, and Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Campion, Rustic Shoulder-knot and a Shears overnight (per Durlston C P website). At Dorchester, 37 species of macros, including Wood Carpet, White-point, Lobster Moth, Clouded Silver, Turnip and Waved Umber, and two Broken-barred Carpet were new for the site (J Down).  Singles each of Alder Kitten, Vine's Rustic, Bordered Straw and Dingy Shell at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

6 June 2006

By day, a Lackey moth caterpillar on a fence post, Silver Y moth and Grass Veneer in the fields at Durlston (per Durlston C P website).  Two Rhopobota myrtillana, Black Down, Martinstown, a bilberry feeder and the first Dorset record for more than sixty years (P Sterling).

5 June 2006

A Bordered Straw was the only moth of note at Portland Obs (M Cade).  A Dark Spectacle trapped at Broadwey (P Harris).  In Dorchester, a Pale-shouldered Brocade was a first for the site, and Small Elephant, Elephant and Privet Hawk-moth and Broad-barred White were also caught.  Mottled Rustic and Large Yellow Underwing were also firsts for the year here.  Nearby at Maiden Castle, Fox Moth are evident in the evening, attracting Hobbies (J Down).  On Blackdown, a further ten Lead Belle were seen during the day (P Davey).

4 June 2006

At Portland Obs, a very battered Small Mottled Willow was a first record for the year, and among the local specialities, both Euzophera cinerosella and Cypress Carpet were caught for the first time this year yesterday (M Cade).  At Durlston: Grass Rivulet, Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton were among the day-flying moths to be seen in the meadows (per Dulston C P).  A Mocha was a first record for the site at Broadwey (P Harris).

3 June 2006

The following photos appear to show the first acceptable record of Lead Belle in Dorset.  Some specimens are very similar to the more frequent July Belle, but this shows all the characteristics of Lead Belle, and is as close as one can get without resorting to 'gen.det'.  There were three caught in suitable habitat at Hardy's Monument, Blackdown, along with three Speckled Yellow, two White-bordered Moth, and eight Broom Moth.  The habitat is very similar to known Lead Belle sites in Devon and Cornwall, and perhaps further investigation of similar habitat in the west of the county may reap benefits (T A Box). 

At Durlston overnight, were a Waved Umber, an Orange Footman (a rarity there), Light Feathered Rustic, Silver Y and several White-point (per Durlston C P website). There were 13 species to a sheet under an MV in Verwood, including Scarce Merveille du Jour, Pine Hawk-moth, and Alder Moth (M Weaver).  A Lunar Thorn, Hendover Coppice (J Astley).  26 moths of 20 species at Babylon Hill, including the first Large Yellow Underwing of the year (M Yeates).  Hawk-moths seemed to be in evidence, with Elephant, Eyed and two Poplar Hawk-moth at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

2 June 2006

The only moth of note at Portland was a Dark Spectacle (M Cade).  13 species in a Chickerell garden, included a single Turnip and, new for this year, a Figure of Eighty, a Vine's Rustic and two Buff-tip.  There is an interesting record of a Death's-head Hawk-moth seen settled on a van at Sandbanks, Poole during the day (K. Standing per P Davey).  At Durlston, daytime flyers included Mother Shipton, Cinnibar, Grass Rivulet and Yellow Belle (per Durlston C P website); and day-flying micro species, included the decidedly local dog rose-feeding Lampronia morosa, plus the more frequent longhorn Adela fibulella flying close to its foodplant Germander Speedwell (P Davey).  At Higher Hyde reserve, there were five Dingy Mocha in one trap (P Sterling).  At Minterne Seat Coppice, singles each of Incurvaria praelatella and Esperia sulphurella; and new for the year Small Angle Shades and Pale-shouldered Brocade (T A Box).  The scarce Pammene germmana at Alners Gorse (P Davey) and a Delicate (G Hopkins).  A Hummingbird Hawk-moth by day, Sherborne (per Dorset B C).  At Babyon Hill, 48 moths of 32 species, including Alabonia geoffrella and Vine's Rustic, and a Striped Hawk-moth feeding at Valerian at dusk (M Yeates). A daytime stroll over part of Fontmell Down, produced Pyrausta purpuralis, Common Heath, Grass Rivulet and at least ten Silver Y (T A Box).  Also by day at Melbury Down, a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (K Tailby).

1 June 2006

Interest picked up noticeably in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, with a Scorched Wing (only the second or third island record), a Striped Hawk-moth, a Pine Hawk-moth and a Bordered Straw the highlights (M Cade).  A good night at Durlston: a fine Eastern Bordered Straw, a Dark Spectacle and about 18 White-point, a couple of Diamond-back, Rusty-dot Pearl and Silver Y too.  Nice residents included Homoeosoma nebulella, Small Elephant Hawk, Cream-spot Tiger, Lychnis, Shears, Puss, Netted Pug, Grass Rivulet, Light Feathered Rustic, Rustic Shoulder-knot and Bordered Sallow (P Davey).  At Chickerell were a Least Black Arches and an Orange Footman; firsts for the year there included singles of Oak Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Cabbage Moth and a very battered Poplar Hawk-moth (C Pinder).  At Black Wood, Middlemarsh, 46 of 20 species, including two Orange Footman, and a Mocha; at Grange Woods, Middlemarsh, 22 moths of 15 species, including two Square-spot and a Yellow-barred Brindle (T A Box).  At Gillingham, Dark Sword-grass, Vine's Rustic and two Silver Y (G Hopkins).

31 May 2006

Although very pleasant by day over the last few days, it has been cold at night.  A Bordered Straw, Chickerell, following a very worn moth the previous night that was also probably this species (C Pinder)).  In the Batcombe Hill Wood area, 79 of 25 species, including new for the year Rustic Shoulder-knot and Clay Triple-lines (T A Box).  A Ni Moth, Closworth (J Astley)

29 May 2006

Grass Rivulet by day in the meadows, Durlston (per Durlston C.P. website).

28 May 2006

A Striped Hawk-moth, a Delicate and a Bordered Straw provided immigrant interest in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps.  At Durlston, two Privet Hawk-moth, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Light Feathered Rustic, White Ermine and Silver Y (per Durlston C P website).  A Speckled Yellow Moth, Durdle Door (per Dorset B C website).  Yet another Striped Hawk-moth, Puddletown (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  Two Orange Footman, Row Hill Coppice (T A Box).

27 May 2006

At Portland Obs: two Delicate and a Diamond-back; Mullein Wave, Shaded Pug and Common Pug were all new for the year (M Cade).  A Striped Hawk-moth, Puddletown (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  26 moths of 18 species, with White-spotted Pug a new one for the garden, Lyons Gate (T A Box).

26 May 2006

At Chickerell, only seven moths in the trap, all singles: White Ermine, Willow Beauty, Heart and Dart, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Small Square-spot and a Dark / Grey Dagger (C Pinder).  27 species at Broadwey, the highlight being a Small Mottled Willow (P Harris).  Two Flame Wainscot, Morden Bog (P Davey).  Five Orange Footman and a Turnip, Lyons Gate (T A Box).

25 May 2006

A MV trap at Winterborne Stickland: Figure of Eighty, Poplar Hawk-moth, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Treble Lines, Pebble Prominent, Light Brocade and Mottled Pug moths (per Dorset B.C.).  Three Striped Hawk-moth and a Small Mottled Willow, Puddletown (H Wood Homer per P Harris).  At Closworth, there was a Striped Hawk-moth and Alder Kitten (J Astley).  At Gillingham, migrants included singles each of Silver Y, Bordered Straw, and Ni Moth (Identity to be confirmed) (G Hopkins).

24 May 2006

A Poplar Hawk-moth found clinging to a shop doorframe in Weymouth harbour (G Stow).  Several Pyrausta aurata during the afternoon at Ryewater (J Astley).  Jack also managed to photograph some of the scarcer butterflies seen at Ryewater.

22 May 2006

A Shuttle-shaped Dart and eight Silver Y, Closworth (J Astley).

20 May 2006

A combusta form of Clouded-bordered Brindle, Upwey (P Harris).  At Minterne Seat Coppice, 31 moths of 15 species, including Adela reaumurella, Orange Footman and Least Black Arches (T A Box).  The Alners Gorse event went ahead despite the forecast weather, and proved enjoyable with seven traps yielding in excess of 70 species in mild, drizzly conditions. Nice moths included five Prominent species, a Figure of Eighty, a Poplar Kitten, a Lime Hawk-moth, a Seraphim, a superbly marked Oak Nycteoline, a Mullein Shark, an Orange Footman, eight Pug species, a Maiden's Blush and Eulia ministrana (a beautiful burnished green and brown coloured tortrix) (P Davey).  At Babylon Hill, 32 of 14 species, including probable Currant Pug, Brown Rustic, three Treble-lines (two of which bilinea form), and 11 Silver Y (M Yeates).

19 May 2006

Two Silver Y, a Buff Ermine and Coxcomb Prominent at Closworth (J Astley).

17 May 2006

In very windy conditions overnight the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps were two Diamond-back and a Silver Y.  An influx of Striped Hawk-moth, with two at Broadwey, Weymouth (P Harris), three at Puddletown, (H Wood Homer per P Harris) and one at Walditch (per P Davey).

16 May 2006

There was a veritable fall of immigrant moths overnight, with the Portland Obs garden traps attracting 15 Diamond-back, five Silver Y, two Rusty-dot Pearl, and singles each of Rush Veneer, Gem, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a Dark Sword-grass (M Cade).  A Pearly Underwing, Broadwey, Weymouth (P Harris).  Two Striped Hawk-moth and 164 Silver Y, Puddletown (per Migrant Moths and Atropos).

15 May 2006

A Striped Hawk-moth was the immigrant highlight in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight; six Diamond-back and a Silver Y were also recorded, along with the first Nutmeg and Pale Mottled Willow of the year (M Cade).  An obvious arrival of Silver Y noted, with a number of coastal daytime sightings, including one seen over Lyme Bay while sea-watching (P Harris).

14 May 2006

A Dark Sword-grass at Upwey (P Harris).  At Durlston by day, a Mullein Moth, and patches of silken webs of both the Lackey and Brown-tail on the shrubs (per Durlston CP website).  A Dingy Mocha, Morden Bog (P Davey).

13 May 2006

Immigrants at Portland Obs garden moth-traps included five Diamond-back, two Silver Y and a Rusty-dot Pearl; Common Wave and Spectacle were both new for the year (M Cade).  Highlights at a Chickerell garden were an Orange Footman, and a Treble Lines (C Pinder). A Syndemis musculana, and Pale Prominent among a disappointing haul at Holm Bushes, and a new for the year at Batcombe Barn reedbed was a Pale Tussock (T A Box).  A Devon Carpet, Chedington Wood (P Davey).

12 May 2006

Five Diamond-backs and five Silver Y were the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight; Cabbage Moth in a garden moth-trap at Fortuneswell and Common Swift, Least Black Arches and Large Yellow Underwing at the Obs were all new for the year (M Cade).  At Chickerell, four firsts for the year there, singles each of Waved Umber, Blood-vein, Lime-speck Pug and Chocolate-tip (C Pinder).  Durlston pitched in with Rustic Shoulder-knot, Tawny Shears and Light Feathered Rustic (P Davey)  A Cinnabar Moth and a Scarlet Tiger larva on nettles, Ballard Down (per Dorset B C).  There were 36 species trapped at Oakers Wood, the best being two Little Thorn and a Scarce Prominent (D Foot).  At Closworth, were Sallow Kitten, Puss Moth and Pebble Prominent (J Astley).  22 moths of 14 species, including two Pseudoswammerdarnia combinella and an Endrosis sarcitrella, Babylon Hill (M Yeates).  Both Lime Hawk-moth and Poplar Hawk-moth recorded at Motcombe, with Chinese Character, Clouded Border and Waved Umber recorded a little earlier than in recent years (per Dorset B C).

11 May 2006

At Portland, an Oak-tree Pug was a noteworthy capture overnight in the Obs garden moth-traps (this species was recorded on Portland for the first time last year; perhaps it had been overlooked previously?); four Diamond-back and a Silver Y were the only immigrants caught, whilst Garden Carpet and Heart and Dart were both new species for the year (M Cade).  Two Pebble Prominent, Chickerell (C Pinder).

10 May 2006

Portland Obs produced by way of immigrants: ten Diamond-back and a Dark Sword-grass; Brindled Pug, Lime-speck Pug, Galium Carpet and Yellow Belle were also new for the year (M Cade).  At Chickerell: three Muslin Moth and a Flame Shoulder (C Pinder).  At Verwood, there were six Pine Beauty, a Bordered White and a Lime Hawk-moth among others (M Weaver).  Three Hummingbird Hawk-moth, by day, Lulworth Camp (per Dorset B C).   At Babylon Hill: three Pseudoswammerdarnia combinella, three Diamond-back, singles each of Agonopterix alstromeriana and Scoparia ambigualis, two each of Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Seraphim, Ruby Tiger and Shuttle-shaped Dart and a Silver Y (M Yeates).

9 May 2006

Firsts for the year Chickerell included two Muslin Moth and a battered Bright-line Brown-eye (C Pinder), and at Shapwick included Lime Hawk-moth and Puss Moth (P Davey).  At Lyons Gate: included a Waved Umber, and the first Parsnip Moth, Angle-shades and Muslin Moth of the year here (T A Box).

8 May 2006

The only immigrant moth at Portland Obs, was a single Diamond-back (M Cade).  At Closworth, a Scorched Carpet and a Knot Grass (J Astley).

7 May 2006

At Portland Obs, the only immigrant moths were four Diamond-back and two Silver Y (M Cade).  At Holt Heath, in the few hours before the monsoon broke!: included both Birch Mocha and Dingy Mocha, Ruddy Highflyer, three Small Engrailed, three Ringed Carpet, a Maiden's Blush, three Scarce Prominent, two Emperor, a Sallow Kitten, a Cryptoblabes bistriga and a potential immigrant Large Yellow Underwing (P Davey).  At Enford Bottom, near Shillingstone: a Cinnabar Moth, several Pyrausta nigrata - a local species of Pyrale moth (per Dorset B C).

6 May 2006

At Portland Obs: migrants attracted were five Silver Y, four Diamond-back and a Delicate.  A Least Black Arches among more common species, at Chickerell (C Pinder).  At Dorchester, nine Diamond-back and four Silver Y (J Down).  At Grange Woods, Middlemarsh: 40 moths of 16 species, with singles each of Syndemis musculana, Maiden's Blush, Red-green Carpet and Square Spot, and six Great Prominent (T A Box).  One Diamond-back, Closworth, (J Astley).  At Babylon Hill, ten moths of seven species, including two Diamond-back and a Marbled Pug (see here for more information) (M Yeates).

5 May 2006

At Portland Obs garden traps there were ten Diamond-back, two Silver Y and a single Chocolate-tip (the latter species is only a very infrequent visitor to the island) (M Cade).   At least 12 males were assembled to four freshly emerged bred female Emperor Moth at Tadnoll reserve today (M Forster and D Foot).  At East Hill copse, Godmanstone, 48 moths of ten species, including singles each of Diamond-back, Silver Y, Pale Pinion, Lunar Marbled Brown and a Pine Beauty (T A Box).  At Lyldlinch Common, two Silver Y by day (per Dorset B C).

4 May 2006

Immigrant interest picked up a little in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps, with 27 Diamond-backs and a single Silver Y caught overnight (M Cade).  Six Silver Y, Broadwey, Weymouth (P Harris).  At Durlston: c50 Diamond-back, 17 Silver Y, one each of Netted Pug and Galium Carpet (C Manley and S Nash).  A Striped Hawk-moth, West Bexington (per Migrant Moths).  A measly haul of ten moths at Lyons Gate, the best being a Waved Umber (T A Box).  A new record for the garden in Gillingham was seven Diamond-back, and a first for the year there, a Garden Carpet (G Hopkins).  At Babylon Hill, at least 42 moths of 21 species, noteworthy records include 15 Diamond-back, two Lunar Marbled Brown and a Silver Y (M Yeates).

3 May 2006

A Diamond-back and a Dark Sword-grass were the only immigrants attracted to the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight (M Cade).  A Ni Moth, at West Bexington (per Migrant Moths).  Quite an influx of immigrant Diamond-back overnight, across the south of the country, with no less than 50 covering the egg boxes within the trap this morning at Shapwick.  Two Silver Y at Alners Gorse, with single Acleris literana and Lead-coloured Drab, two Blossom Underwing, three Grey Shoulder-knot, 12 Frosted Green and four 'Prominent' (Swallow, Coxcomb, Great, Pebble) species in attendance (P Davey). 

2 May 2006

Three Ringed Carpet on Bloxworth Heath (P Davey).

1 May 2006

At Portland Obs, the only new species for the year in the traps was a Rustic Shoulder-knot (M Cade). Two photos taken today: the first is of a full-grown Old Lady caterpillar evidently having fed on wild currant in a damp part of Bloxworth Heath, the second is a freshly emerged Endothenia gentianaeana bred from old teasel heads collected at Durlston several weeks ago (P Davey).  An Agonopterix purpurea and two Agonopterix heracliana, Hendover Copse (J Astley). 

30 April 2006

The only interest in the Portland Obs garden traps was the first Flame Shoulder of the year (M Cade).  Overnight moth-trapping in a garden at Southwell produced a single Dark Sword-grass along with the first White Ermine of the year. 

29 April 2006

A cooler night of late, down to 4 deg at Lyons Gate, 22 moths of 10 species, with two Red Chestnut and a Red Twin-spot Carpet.  At Berkley Wood to actinic: 38 moths of 13 species, the highlights being Streamer, V-Pug, Scorched Carpet and two Lunar Marbled Brown.  At Holm Bushes to actinic: 27 moths of 11 species, the best being a Purple Thorn and three Frosted Green (T A Box).  At Briars Wood: 11 species including Frosted Green, Brimstone moth, Nut-tree Tussock, Streamer and Purple Thorn (J Astley).  At Babylon Hill: highlights included Agonopterix ocellana, both Lesser Swallow and Swallow Prominent, and Dotted Chestnut (M Yeates).

28 April 2006

Overnight moth-trapping in the Portland Obs garden produced a Purple Thorn (only the third island record, following singles in 1958 and 2000) and a Diamond-back; V-Pug and Dotted Border were the only additions to the macro-moth year list, whilst Eudonia angustea was the first pyralid recorded this year (M Cade).  An Oak Nycteoline, Lyons Gate (T A Box). 

27 April 2006

Moth-trapping overnight at Portland Obs produced a single Diamond-back along with the first Muslin Moth of the year; a Waved Umber attracted to lights at Church Ope was also a first for the year (M Cade).  At Lyons Gate, the highlights were: a Frosted Green, three Great Prominent, and a first for this site, a late Dotted Chestnut (T A Box).  In garden at Babylon Hill, the highlights were singles each of Agonopterix heracliana, Pine Beauty and Red Sword-grass (M Yeates). 

26 April 2006

No immigrants in the Portland Obs garden moth-traps overnight, with Brimstone and Shuttle-shaped Dart the only new species for the year (M Cade)  A Dark Sword-grass, Shaggs (per Migrant Moths). At Shapwick: singles each of Yellow-barred Brindle, Coxcomb Prominent and a Small Waved Umber, so the late spring emergence evidently well underway (P Davey).  A Lunar Marbled Brown, an early Pebble Prominent, and a Semioscopis steinkellnariana were the highlights at Gillingham (G Hopkins)

25 April 2006

A Turnip was the only presumed migrant at Portland Obs (M Cade).  At Shapwick: a Mullein Shark, a Purple Thorn and a Semioscopus steinkellneriana were goodies (P Davey).

24 April 2006

At Portland Obs garden, two Silver Y and a Dark Sword Grass were the only immigrants attracted; a Chamomile Shark was a first record  or the year in a garden light-trap at Southwell, Portland.  A Silver Y, Chickerell (C Pinder).  At Durlston: 12 species of moth overnight, including Angle Shades, and possibly migrant Silver Y and Dark Sword-grass (per Durlston C.P.).  An Acleris literana and a Pebble Prominent at Lyons Gate (T A Box).

23 April 2006

 Moth-trapping was much more productive than of late at Portland Bird Obs, where 2 Silver Y, a Diamond-back and a Dark Sword-grass were immigrants of note and Double-striped Pug, Early Thorn, Red Chestnut, Angle Shades and Powdered Quaker were all recorded for the first time this year.  A Pine Beauty, Chickerell (C Pinder).  A Silver Y, Walditch (per Migrant Moths).  A Dark Sword-grass and three Diamond-back at Durlston (per Migrant Moth).  An Acleris literana at Lyons Gate (T A Box).  A Dotted Chestnut, Closworth (J Astley). 

22 April 2006

At Grange Woods, Middlemarsh, 89 moths of 19 species to 15w actninc, the best being singles each of Semioscopus steinkellneriana,  Frosted Green, and a Water Carpet.  At Lyons Gate, 39 of 15 species, with my first Pine Beauty (T A Box).  A Diamond-back at Shapwick (per Migrant Moths).  A single  Ancylis comptana, Cashmoor (per Dorset B.C.)

20 April 2006

Peter Davey reports "Light traps placed strategically close to the part of Morden Bog containing swathes of bog myrtle on a warm, largely calm and initially damp night.  Local bog myrtle feeding species and forms included an array of ochre and rosé-tinted Powdered Quaker (this species is arguably more frequent in this locality than anywhere else in the county), a single Red Sword-grass undoubtedly from the well-established colony across the Bog, and several Acleris rufana.  Three Agonopterix scopariella were netted as they flew among their host foodplant, broom.  The UK Notable Nb Horse Chestnut moth was out in force too. Unfortunately, midges were already on the wing and took every opportunity to bite!"

19 April 2006

Another two Small Eggar and a Diamond-back, Shapwick (P Davey).

18 April 2006

A Emmelina monodactyla found at rest by day, Lyons Gate (T A Box)

17 April 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the wing during the day at Cheyne, Portland (per M Cade).  A cooler night, and only 9 moths of 5 species to MV at Lyons Gate, the best being a black and white Acleris cristana (T A Box).

16 April 2006

Two actinic traps set independently in Hendover Coppice near Batcombe had similar results: 14 species including Frosted Green and Early Tooth-striped (J Astley), and 13 species including Water Carpet and Early Tooth-striped (T A Box).

15 April 2006

A daytime Hummingbird Hawk-moth, in garden bottom of Babylon Hill (M Yeates). 

Portland Obs continues to be quiet on the moth front, with the current year list standing at three species: Hebrew Character, Small Quaker and Common Quaker (M Cade).  At Broadwey, Weymouth, Oak Nycteoline and Rush Veneer were the highlights among common species (P Harris).

At Oakers Wood: 495 moths of 22 species, with 134 Small Quaker, 59 Brindled Pug, and 21 Brindled Beauty (D Foot).  110 moths of 19 species at Kingcombe, including 15 Red Chestnut and a Water Carpet (N Croton).  At Chilfrome: another Red Sword-grass among 43 moths of 14 species S Philp).  Lyons Gate: 33 moths of 14 species to 125MV, one Frosted Green and my first Streamer and Grey Shoulder-knot of the year.  Minterne Seat Coppice: 41 moths of 17 species to 15w actinic, including Agonopterix heracliana and Water Carpet.  Row Hill Coppice: 57 of 17 species to 15w actinic, including two Red Chestnut, a Pale Pinion and two Grey Shoulder-knot (T A Box).  A Double-striped Pug and a Satellite, Gillingham (G Hopkins). 

14 April 2006

At Lyons Gate: highlights included Depressaria ultimella, Agonopterix propinquella, Acleris literana, and a Small Eggar, singles each of Spring Usher and Engrailed.  At Holm Bushes: singles each of Diurnea fagella, Shoulder Stripe, Water Carpet, Double-striped Pug, Engrailed, Clouded Drab, Twin-spotted Quaker, Hebrew Character, Pale Pinion and Early Grey.  At Burton Hill Wood: two Shoulder Stripe, three Small Quaker, eight Hebrew Character and a Herald (T A Box).  In garden near Babylon Hill: 40W Actinic – singles each of Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, three Hebrew Character, and a Dotted Chestnut.  To 125W Robinson - one Oak Beauty, two Pine Beauty - on wall/in grass, one Small Quaker, two  Common Quaker, one Clouded Drab, and two each of Hebrew Character, and Early Grey - on wall (M Yeates).  At Chickerell: five Early Grey; seven Common Quaker; two Hebrew Character; two Double Striped Pug; a March Moth and three Dotted Border (C Pinder).  At Merley, Wimborne: a Red Sword-grass, Brimstone Moth, two Common Quaker, three Small Quaker, six Hebrew Character and four Early Grey (M & D Godfrey).  A Diamond-back, Shapwick (per Migrant Moth).

Peter Davey writes "My first visit to Durlston Country Park as part of a dedicated project researching noteworthy resident Lepidoptera at Durlston during 2006 yielded three species of interest on a relatively calm, mild night.  Light traps attracted seven Agonopterix rotundella, a very local Oecophorid moth restricted to coastal grassland where it feeds on wild carrot, a very fine tortrix Acleris literana (pictured below) usually an inhabitant of oak woodland but on the Continent stated to feed on blackthorn and other shrub species, and finally good numbers of Mottled Grey, a bedstraw feeder".

13 April 2006

Small Eggar seem to be having a bumper year, possibly triggered by the cold winter;  14 were reported at Shapwick, overnight, making 20 in total over the week there, when there were only two previous records in eight years at this site.  Also Tawny Pinion and Dotted Chestnut there too (P Davey).  At Lyons Gate, highlights included: a Diurnea fagella and an Oak Nycteoline (T A Box).  DMG event at Alner's Gorse, 232 moths of 33 species, highlights being a Pine Beauty, two Blossom Underwing and three Lead-coloured Drab, for full list click here. A Rush Veneer, Dorchester and a Diamond-back, Shapwick (per Migrant Moth).

12 April 2006

Two Double-striped Pug, a Clouded Drab, two Common Quaker, a Small Quaker and three Hebrew Character to actinic light, Closworth (J Astley).  At Lyons Gate: singles each of Early Thorn, March Moth, Hebrew Character and Clouded Drab, and a Diurnea fagella (T A Box).  At Chilfrome: four Oak Beauty, two Early Thorn, four Common Quaker, six Hebrew Character, two Twin-spotted Quaker, one March Moth, one Small Quaker, three Chestnut and a Clouded Drab (D & S Philp). A Dark Chestnut, Gillingham (G Hopkins).

11 April 2006

At Lyons Gate: singles each of Acleris cristana, March Moth and Dotted Border, two Small Quaker, four Clouded Drab, and five Hebrew Character (T A Box).

10 April 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth, by day at Portland (M Cade), and six of them at Lulworth Camp (per Dorset B.C.).

8 April 2006

First moth night at Alners Gorse by the Dorset branch of Butterfly Conservation produced 12 species despite cold weather: Hebrew Character, Early Grey, Early Thorn, Small Quaker (a dozen or more), Common Quaker, Twin spotted Quaker, Oak Beauty, Pale Brindled Beauty, Clouded Drab, and micros, Diurnea fagella and Agonopterix heracliana. Also a March Moth running a bit late! (per Dorset B.C.).

7 April 2006

At Lyons Gate: six Hebrew Character, two Small Quaker, one each of Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and Pale Brindled Beauty (T A Box).

6 April 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Primroses, Shaggs (per Migrant Moth).

5 April 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Worth Matravers (per Migrant Moth).

3 April 2006

A Water Carpet by day, Kingcombe meadows (N Croton). At Portland,  Hebrew Character, Common Quaker and Early Grey were firsts for the year (M Cade).

2 April 2006

A female of the rare Barred Tooth-striped was found on Privet scrub at a known downland location at 8.45 pm (per Dorset B.C) - see 'species to look for'.  An Early Thorn, four Hebrew Character, two Clouded Drab and two Oak Beauty, Lyons Gate (T A Box).  An Early Grey and a Common Quaker, Chickerell (C. Pinder).

1 April 2006

One Hebrew Character, six Common Quaker, two Chestnut, four March Moth and a Red Sword-grass, Chilfrome (D & S Philp).  An Early Grey, two Twin-spot Quaker, seven Small Quaker, five Common Quaker, two Hebrew Character, one Oak Beauty, three Clouded Drab, and singles each of Agonopteryx heracliana and Emmelina monodactyla, Merley, Wimborne (M & D Godfrey).

31 March 2006

An Early Moth seen in bathroom, Merley, Wimborne (M & D Godfrey).

24 March 2006

A male Oak Beauty and a Hebrew Character, Lyons Gate (T A Box).  At Closworth, a Hebrew Character, Grey Shoulder-knot and a Dotted Chestnut (J Astley).

22 March 2006

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth seen during the day, Weston, Portland (per M Cade).

20 March 2006

Two Hebrew Character, Chickerell (C Pinder). 

19 March 2006

A Hebrew Character, Chickerell (C Pinder).

17 March 2006

A Shoulder Stripe, Cliften Wood (J Astley).

15 March 2006

Two Dotted Border, Princes Place (J Astley).

11 March 2006

A Chestnut, Motcombe (per Dorset BC).

8 March 2006

A Pale Brindled Beauty and a Spring Usher, Lyons Gate (T A Box). Singles each of Spring Usher, Dotted Border and the tortrix moth Tortricoides alternella, Motcombe (per Dorset BC).

4 March 2006

An Early Moth, Motcombe, (per Dorset BC).

26 February 2006

A couple of moths seen at workparty at Lydlinch: Ypsolpha mucronella, which feeds on Spindle and is quite local, a moth with long pointed tan coloured forewings that overwinters in deep undergrowth as an adult.  Also Acleris ferrugana, an overwintering Tortricoid moth (per Dorset BC).

25 February 2006

A report of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Weston, Portland (G Walbridge).

6 February 2006

A Pale Brindled Beauty, attracted to light, Lyons Gate (T A Box).

18 January 2006

The first Mottled Grey of the year among several common residents at Portland Obs (M Cade),  and four Mottled Umber, Chilfrome (S Philp).

16 January 2006

A male Winter Moth at Winterborne Stickland on 16th.

12 January 2006

Martin at Portland reports many Winter Moth attracted to the Obs windows over the last few nights, but nothing caught in the trap overnight.

3 - 11 January 2006

No records received, but a light attracted a couple of Large Yellow Underwing near Penzance in Cornwall on the night of the 2nd, and were considered to be migrants (per Yahoo group UK Moths).

2 January 2006

The first records for 2006 were received from Portland Obs on an unseasonable mild night, with a Diamond-back, and the only resident species trapped were Winter Moth, Scobipalpa costella, Light Brown Apple Moth, Crocidosema plebejana and Acleris hastiana (M Cade). In addition, a Silver Y was found indoors, Upwey, Weymouth (P Harris).